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, including the significant shifts in food and leisure spending. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify key trends, you fail to provide a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes, which is a requirement for a high band. Additionally, some comparisons are vague; for instance, stating that families spent 'less' or 'more' on transport without referencing the specific data points makes the report less precise. To improve, ensure you group data logically and provide a clear summary paragraph that highlights the most striking differences between the two years.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical and sometimes incorrect. For example, the use of 'While,' with a capital letter in the middle of a sentence is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'in contrast,' 'conversely,' 'meanwhile') and ensure that your punctuation does not interfere with the logical progression of your sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'spent' and 'accounted for' repeatedly. There are also minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'footware' (footwear) and 'equally spent of their weekly income' (which is an awkward collocation). To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for spending, such as 'expenditure,' 'allocated,' or 'devoted,' and ensure you use precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'a significant decline' or 'a substantial increase.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Issues include incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'equally spent of their weekly income'), misuse of capitalization (e.g., 'While,'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'housing is less then families'). The comparative 'less then' should be 'less than.' While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and correct comparative structures to enhance the accuracy of your writing.

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

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