Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-11

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 bar graph illustrates the expenditure patterns of families in 1968 and 2018.

In 1968, the highest proportion of weekly household expenditure was allocated for food related expenses while the least was spent on fuel and power. By contrast, in 2018, expenditure related to leisure was the highest whereas personal goods represented the smallest proportion of total weekly income.

In 1968, food accounted for 35% of total household expenditure, which was significantly higher than spending in any other category. Clothing and footwear, as well as housing, each accounted for 10%, while less than 10% was spent on fuel and power. In 2018, expenditure on food fell to just 15%, whereas leisure accounted for more than 20% and housing required almost 20% of weekly expenses.

Since 1968, expenses related to food, clothing and footwear, personal good and fuel and power dropped. In 2018, proportion of income spent on transport and leisure increased significantly, with housing expenses showing a moderate increase. Only household goods related expenditure remained consistent in both the years, accounting for slightly less than 10% of total weekly expenditure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively covers the main features of the data. You have successfully identified the key trends, such as the shift in spending from food to leisure and housing. The comparison between 1968 and 2018 is clear, and you have highlighted the most significant changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, you mentioned that 'personal goods' represented the smallest proportion in 2018, but the chart shows 'fuel and power' was actually lower. Additionally, ensure that all categories mentioned are clearly supported by the data provided in the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary of trends. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In 1968', 'By contrast', and 'Since 1968' helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The flow is generally smooth, although some transitions between sentences could be slightly more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately, including terms like 'expenditure patterns', 'allocated', and 'proportion'. There is a good attempt to use topic-specific language. However, there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'personal good' (should be plural 'goods') and 'consistent in both the years' (should be 'in both years'). Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would further enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are a few minor slips, such as the missing article in 'In 2018, proportion of income...' (should be 'the proportion'). Punctuation is generally handled well. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or more varied subordinate clauses, while maintaining the current level of accuracy.

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

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