Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05
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 illustrates the information about how families in one country spent their weekly income on essential items in 1968 and 2018, and what they maximum used.
The maximum spending in 1968 was done on food by families. Clothing and footwear was in second place in spending by families in one country in 1968. Spending on household goods in 1968 and 2018 remained the same.
Food accounted for 35% of weekly income, while clothing and footwear accounted for 10% of weekly income.
The highest spending in 2018 by families was on leisure. Furthermore, housing was in second place in spending.
Leisure accounted 23%,which is highest percentage, and 19% accounted by housing.
Other essential items had significant changes. Families increased their spending on fuel and power compared to 1968, while families decreased their spending on personal goods in 2018. In 2018, people doubled their spending on transportation accounted of about 14%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart, such as the shift from food to leisure as the primary expenditure. However, the analysis is somewhat fragmented and lacks a clear overview of the overall trends. While you mention specific categories, the comparison between 1968 and 2018 is inconsistent; for instance, you state household goods remained the same, but you miss other significant shifts like the decline in food expenditure. The report would benefit from a more cohesive summary that highlights the most dramatic changes rather than listing individual data points in isolation. Some data points are also presented without sufficient context or comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into short paragraphs, which helps readability. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited; for example, you rely on simple transitions like 'Furthermore' and 'In 2018'. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect the data points more fluidly. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the paragraph structure feels disjointed, with some sentences appearing as isolated facts rather than part of a cohesive argument or analysis. Improving the flow between sentences would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. You use basic phrasing such as 'maximum used' and 'accounted by', which are not natural collocations. There is also some repetition of the word 'spending'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied vocabulary related to trends and statistics, such as 'expenditure', 'proportion', 'fluctuated', or 'witnessed a significant rise'. While the meaning is clear, the lack of variety and occasional awkward word choices limit the score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'what they maximum used' is grammatically incorrect, as is 'accounted 23%, which is highest percentage'. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'accounted of about 14%'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice when describing data, as well as ensuring articles are used correctly before nouns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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