Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02

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 bar chart delineate the data about how household in one country spent their weekly pay in 1968 and in 2018. Whereas it is given in percentages.

The bars of graph are seperated by years as well as by spendings. There was a major gap for food expence between both years, In addition it was the highest paid thing in 1968.

Starting from daily need like food it had taken 35% in 1968 and about 17% in 2018 of total income. Another is accommodation which had got 10% in 1968 and nearly 19% in 2018 of 7days spending. Further about clothing and footware had got 10% in 1968 and 5% in 2018 from salery of a week.

Other needed things: Fuel and electricity had 6% in 1968 and 4%in 2018, then transportation got 8%in 1968 and 14% in 2018 of total wage. Pay for the household and personal goods was average 7% in 1968 and 5% in 2018. Further, spent on leisure was 9% in 1968 and 22% in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying key trends such as the decline in food spending and the rise in leisure costs. However, the overview is weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes or comparisons between the two years. The report is largely a list of data points rather than a synthesis of information. While all categories are mentioned, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of a strong, integrated overview prevents it from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure the introduction and overview clearly highlight the most striking differences and trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical (e.g., 'Another is...', 'Further about...'). The transition between sentences is occasionally abrupt, and the logical progression could be smoother. While the paragraphing is functional, the lack of sophisticated linking words or varied referencing makes the flow feel disjointed. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that sentences connect more naturally would enhance the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it is quite basic and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'highest paid thing' instead of 'highest expenditure' and 'daily need' instead of 'essential items'. Spelling errors like 'expence', 'seperated', 'footware', and 'salery' are noticeable. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to data description (e.g., 'accounted for', 'expenditure', 'proportion', 'fluctuated') and focus on accurate spelling of common academic terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'The bar chart delineate' (subject-verb agreement), 'Whereas it is given in percentages' (fragmented sentence), and 'had got' (informal/inaccurate phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and avoiding informal phrasing will help improve accuracy.

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