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 categories, the proportion of income spent is lower than it was before, with one exception of a household category 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 10% 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 each held a share of around 5%. Clothing had a share of 5%, while the household goods share remained stable after fifty years with around 8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively covers the requirements of the task by identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons between 1968 and 2018. You successfully highlighted the significant shift in food expenditure and the growth in leisure spending. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the data. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, you mentioned 'household goods' remained stable, but the chart shows a slight increase, and your grouping of categories could be more precise. Overall, the response is well-focused and provides a clear picture of the changes over the fifty-year period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1968', 'In 2018', 'Additionally', and 'as compared to' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two time periods, which aids readability. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the two years is clearly established. The use of referencing is generally accurate, contributing to the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'proportion of income', 'significant decrease', and 'remained stable' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the task, it lacks the 'less common' items or more sophisticated collocations that would elevate the score to an 8.0. There is some repetition of the word 'share' and 'proportion'. Expanding your repertoire to include more varied synonyms for 'increase' or 'decrease' (e.g., 'surged', 'plummeted', 'marginal') would enhance the precision and style of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have maintained a high level of accuracy throughout the text, with very few grammatical errors. The use of comparative structures is generally well-handled. While the sentence structures are clear and effective, incorporating a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as passive voice or more varied subordinate clauses, would demonstrate greater flexibility. Punctuation is used correctly, and the overall control of grammar is strong, rarely impeding communication.

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