Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-07

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 6.0)

The chart illustrates information on average weekly spending by families in a particular country from 1968 to 2018.

Overall, spending on food by families recorded the highest percentage of weekly income, whereas personal goods, fuel, and power experienced the least. People spent nearly equal percentages of their weekly income on household goods, personal goods, and transport in 1968. Furthermore, families spent an equal proportion of their income on household goods in both years.

In 1968, the majority percentage of families' income was spent on food, which was approximately 35 percent, then it got reduced by nearly half, to around 17 percent in 2018.

In contrast, people spent their maximum percentage of their income on leisure activity, which was around 23 percent in 2018, which used to be below 10 percent in 1968. Families spent around 8 percent on household goods, personal goods, and transport in 1968. Like this, the spending habit on household goods remained unchanged in both years, which was around 8 percent.

The spending on clothing and footwear was 10 percent in 1968, which plunged by half in 2018 and remained 5 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main trends and makes relevant comparisons between 1968 and 2018. You clearly highlighted the significant shift in food and leisure spending. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; you stated that 'personal goods, fuel, and power experienced the least' spending, but the chart shows that fuel and power remained relatively stable while other categories fluctuated. Additionally, the statement that 'spending on food... recorded the highest percentage' is true for 1968 but not for 2018, where leisure took the lead. To reach a higher band, ensure your overview accurately reflects the data for both years and avoid over-generalising when specific data points contradict the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', and 'In 1968', which help the flow of information. However, some transitions feel a bit repetitive or mechanical, such as 'Like this' to introduce the point about household goods. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different categories of spending. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the progression between sentences is smoother, particularly when moving from one category to another.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'recorded the highest percentage', 'plunged by half', and 'remained unchanged' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'majority percentage' (which is redundant) and 'spending habit' (which is slightly unnatural in this context). The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but to achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing when describing trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'which was around 17 percent in 2018' following a clause that already contains a verb, leading to slightly clunky phrasing. The use of 'which used to be' is acceptable but could be more formal. Punctuation is generally accurate, though some sentences are slightly over-reliant on 'which' clauses. Increasing the variety of complex structures, such as using participle clauses or inversion, would help demonstrate greater control.

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