Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-08

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 line graph illustrates how the families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018. In 1968, food accounted for approximately 35% of weekly income, While, in 2018 families spent only 18% of their income on food which shows huge difference in families in 1968 and in 2018. The line graph shows that the families in 1968 spent their weekly income on housing is less then families in 2018, But the families in 1968 and in 2018 had equally spent of their weekly income in fuel and power.

On the other hand, families in 1968 spent their 10% on clothing and footware, While, families in 2018 spent only 5% of their weekly income.Personal goods decreased marginally from 7% to 4% over the same period. However, 1n 1968 families spent less income on transport and in 2018 families spent more on transport. In 2018, leisure accounted for approximately 22% of weekly income, While, in 1968 families spent only 7% of their weekly income on leisure

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, such as the significant decline in food spending and the rise in leisure and transport costs. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the statement that families 'equally spent' on fuel and power is inaccurate based on the provided data, which shows a slight change. Furthermore, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant trends, which is a key requirement for Band 7. While the main points are identified, the lack of precise data comparison and the inclusion of minor inaccuracies in data interpretation limit the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into two paragraphs, which is a logical approach. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical and sometimes grammatically incorrect, such as the repetitive use of 'While,' at the start of clauses with incorrect capitalisation. The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. For example, the phrase 'which shows huge difference in families' is vague and lacks a clear link to the preceding data. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used correctly would significantly enhance the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. The student relies on basic verbs like 'spent' and 'accounted for' repeatedly. There are also minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'footware' instead of 'footwear' and '1n' instead of 'In'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' (e.g., 'surged', 'plummeted', 'fluctuated') and use more precise terminology to describe the data trends, rather than relying on simple descriptive language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. The misuse of commas, such as 'While, in 2018', and the incorrect capitalisation of 'While' mid-sentence are persistent issues. Additionally, there are errors in comparative structures, such as 'is less then' instead of 'was less than'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct sentence punctuation would be highly beneficial.

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

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