Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 describes the details of the average weekly income spending by families in 1968 and 2018 in a country.

Overall, they spent most of their income in food and a least amout in fuel and power in 1968. While, in 2018, they spent a greater amount of their income in leisure and a least amount in personal goods.

In 1968, 35% of income was spent on food which is a massive part of their income. Moreover, they used 10% of their income in housing, clothing, and footwear. In addition, they spent a same amount of money on household goods, personal goods, and transport which was around 8%. Also, they spent a least amount of money on fuel and power at around 6% only.

On the other hand, in 2018, 23% of income was spent on leisure, and 18% of income was spent on housing, Additionally, on food, they spent 17% which was half, they spent in 1968. Similarly, less then 15% of money was spent on clothing, footwear, household and personal goods, and transport.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying key trends and making relevant comparisons between 1968 and 2018. You successfully highlighted the shift from food spending to leisure spending. However, the report is somewhat mechanical in its presentation of data. For instance, listing percentages for several categories in 1968 without grouping them more effectively makes the analysis feel like a list rather than a synthesis. To reach a higher band, ensure you group data points more logically and provide a more nuanced comparison of the changes over the fifty-year period, rather than simply stating the figures for each year separately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally disrupted by repetitive sentence structures and some mechanical transitions. For example, the phrase 'they spent' is used repeatedly at the start of sentences, which makes the progression feel a bit stilted. To improve, try to vary your sentence starters and use a wider range of cohesive devices to connect your points more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information clearly. You use terms like 'average weekly income' and 'leisure' correctly. However, there is a lack of variety and some minor errors in word choice, such as 'a least amout' (should be 'the least amount') and 'less then' (should be 'less than'). The vocabulary is somewhat basic and repetitive. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns, such as 'expenditure', 'allocated', 'accounted for', or 'fluctuated', to demonstrate a more sophisticated range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'they spent a same amount' (should be 'the same amount') and 'they spent 17% which was half, they spent in 1968' (punctuation and structure issues). Additionally, there are minor errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'in food' instead of 'on food'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of relative clauses.

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

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