Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-10

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 6.5)

The chart illustrates how families in one country spent their weekly income between 1968 and 2018.

Overall, the percentage figure for the weekly food spending fell significantly whereas the proportion of weekly leisure expenditure increased sharply in 2018. In constrat, the percentage of household good expenditure remained constant throughout the period.

In 1968, the percentage of weekly income spent on food was the highest 35% whereas it fell dramtically and reached around 27% in 2018. In contrast, the proportion of weekly income spent on housing and leisure was quite low and followed each other in 1968; however, the percentage  figures for the both categories increased considerably in 2018.

Moreover, the percentage of weekly income spent on household goods remained the same over the period. There were three areas such as fuel and power, clothing and footwear and personal goods  where the proportion of weekly income recorded a moderate fall throughout the period. Finally, the proportion of weekly income spent on transport increased from 7% to 14% over the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main trends and makes relevant comparisons between the two years. You have highlighted the significant decrease in food spending and the rise in leisure and transport costs. However, the analysis is slightly uneven; while you mention the 'moderate fall' in three categories, grouping them together without specific data points for each limits the depth of your analysis. To reach a higher band, ensure that all key features are supported by specific data from the chart rather than generalising trends across multiple categories. Overall, the response covers the requirements well and provides a clear overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organised into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on different spending trends. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Moreover', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the second body paragraph (e.g., 'followed each other') is a bit vague. The progression of ideas is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'proportion', 'expenditure', and 'significantly'. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'constrat' instead of 'contrast' and 'dramtically' instead of 'dramatically'. While you attempt to use varied vocabulary, some phrasing is slightly repetitive (e.g., 'percentage of weekly income spent on'). To improve, try to use more precise synonyms for 'spent on' or 'percentage' to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'percentage figures for the both categories' (the 'the' is unnecessary) and 'There were three areas such as... where the proportion... recorded a moderate fall'. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout, and the punctuation is generally accurate. To achieve a higher band, focus on refining the accuracy of your complex sentences and ensuring articles and prepositions are used correctly.

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

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