Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-26
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 chart provide us information about families spent weekly income in 1968 and 2018. Their average weekly expenses are different and the families in 1968 had different interest compare to those in 2018.
Firstly, in 1968 people spent most of their weekly income in food, housing and clothing. About 35% of their weekly income are spent in food. While, 10% spent in housing, clothing and footware both equally. They are generally more spent their money in housing. They are more interested to spent in this section.
Furthermore, in 2018 families spent their income in leisure, housing and food. Their interest are totally change and they are spent their average weekly income in leisure. About 22% are spent in leisure. In housing section, about 19% weekly income are spent and 17% are spent in food. They are more interested to spent their average weekly income in leisure, food and housing in 2018.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies some main features, such as the shift from food to leisure, but it fails to provide a comprehensive overview. The data selection is somewhat limited, and the comparison between the two years is underdeveloped. For instance, the report mentions percentages but lacks a clear synthesis of the trends. The analysis of the data is repetitive, and the conclusion is missing. To improve, ensure you highlight the most significant changes and provide a clear summary of the overall trends rather than just listing individual figures. The response covers the task but lacks the depth required for a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'Furthermore' and 'Firstly'. The progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. For example, the phrase 'They are more interested to spent in this section' is vague and lacks a clear link to the previous sentence. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'spent', 'income', and 'interested'. There are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'interest compare to' instead of 'interests compared to' and 'footware' (spelling error). The range of vocabulary is just about adequate to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility needed for a higher score. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'spending' and 'trends', and ensure you use the correct word forms in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'The chart provide' instead of 'The chart provides' and 'Their interest are totally change' instead of 'Their interests have totally changed'. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. When complex structures are attempted, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering basic verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, and practice constructing more complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions to link ideas more effectively.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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