Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03

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 6.5)

The bar chart provides data related to families who spent their weekly income in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, the expenditure of families on leisure, transport, and housing increased after five decades. In other cases income consumed less than before half a century, with one exception of a household with the same proportion after fifty years.

In 1968, the highest proportion of weekly income was spent on food, with 35%, followed by housing and clothing, each with a 20% share. Additionally, the share of leisure accounted for 9% as compared to transport, personal goods, and household goods with 8% for each category. Fuel and power had the lowest proportion, around 6%.

In 2018, there was a significant decrease in spending on food from 35% in 1968 to around 16% after five decades. Leisure accounted for around 22%, as compared to housing and transport with around 20% and around 15%, respectively. Personal goods and fuel had a joint share of around 5% each. Clothing had a share of 5%, while the household goods share remained unchanged after fifty years with around 8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all requirements of the task by identifying the main features and making relevant comparisons. You successfully highlighted the significant shift in food expenditure and the stability of household goods. However, the overview is slightly vague; phrases like 'In other cases income consumed less' are imprecise. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview clearly identifies the most significant trends (e.g., the shift from essential spending on food to discretionary spending on leisure) rather than just listing categories. The data is generally accurate, though the grouping of categories in the final paragraph could be more streamlined to improve the flow of comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'In 2018', and 'as compared to' are used appropriately to link ideas. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though some sentences in the second paragraph feel slightly list-like. Improving the variety of linking words would help the essay flow more naturally and move it toward a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Terms like 'expenditure', 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'significant decrease' are used correctly in context. There are some minor awkward phrasings, such as 'income consumed less than before half a century', which is slightly unnatural. While you use some less common items, the vocabulary is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing when describing trends and proportions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which allows for easy communication. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'with one exception of a household with the same proportion', which is slightly clunky. You have good control over punctuation and basic grammar. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice or more sophisticated subordinate clauses, while maintaining the current level of accuracy.

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

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