Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

1968 and 2018: average weekly spending by families

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The rendered bar chart compares the information about how families in a country spent their weekly wages in 1968 and 2018. The data has been calibrated in percentage.

Overall, after proper scanning it is quite evident that food tooks up most of the income in 1968 , while income spent on fuel and power was comparetively low.

To begin, in year 1968 the proportions made on food was 35% this figure was reduced in the year 2018 at around 17%. Moreover the income spent on housing accounted for 10% in year 1968 and around 18% in 2018. Expenses made on fuel and power was lowest in comparison and was around 6% in 1968 and less than 5% in 2018. Income spent on clothings was 10% and 5% for 1968 and 2018 respectively.

Fuerthermore, money spent on household remained same in both years around 8%. However, the expenditure made on personal goods in 1968 wasmore than 5% and less than 5% in year 2018. Transport and leisure activities acoounted for around 7 % of income in 1968 this figure was surged in 2018 at around 15% and just less then a quater in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all key features of the chart, including the major shifts in spending patterns between 1968 and 2018. You successfully identified the significant decline in food expenditure and the rise in transport and leisure costs. However, the report lacks a clear, cohesive overview paragraph; the current overview is somewhat brief and could be better integrated. Additionally, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting, such as the mention of 'less than a quarter' for leisure in 2018, which is not clearly supported by the provided data. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise and that the overview highlights the most significant trends rather than just listing details.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To begin', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions. For instance, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. The referencing is generally clear, but the structure within the paragraphs could be improved by grouping related categories more effectively rather than listing them sequentially. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the main points clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'proportions', 'expenditure', and 'accounted for'. However, there are several spelling errors ('comparetively', 'clothings', 'Fuerthermore', 'acoounted', 'quater') and some imprecise word choices, such as 'tooks up' instead of 'took up' or 'accounted for'. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensure careful proofreading to eliminate spelling mistakes, which currently limit the score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('proportions made on food was'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward phrasing ('this figure was surged'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for more error-free sentences and work on the accurate use of passive voice and comparative structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve the quality of your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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