Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
THE DOUBLE BAR CHART ILLUSTRATES THE PROPORTION OF WEEKLY EXPENDITURE MADE MY FAMILIES IN YEAR 1968 AND 2018 ON 8 DIFFERENT CATAGORIES.
OVERALL, THE FOOD SECTOR WAS COVERING MOST OF THEIR INCOME IN YEAR 1968. IT WAS NOTICEABLE THAT LEISURE ACTIVITIES ALSO SHARE A LARGE PROPORTION IN YEAR 2018 AS COMPARE TO OTHERS.
THE EXPENDITURE MADE ON FUEL AND POWER AS WELL AS PERSONAL GOODS WAS ALMOST IDENTICAL IN BOTH YEARS. HOUSEHOLD GOODS COVERED UP NEARBY 8% OF INCOME WHEREAS CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DROPPED TO 5% BY YEAR 2018 ALMOST HALF THAN YEAR 1968.
35% OF INCOME CONTRIBUTED TO FOOD SECTOR IN YEAR 1968 WHICH WAS CRASHED DOWN TO ROUGHLY 18% BY YEAR 2018. ON THE CONTRARY, IT BECOMED DOUBLE IN HOUSING CATAGORY WAS NEARLY ABOUT 20 % IN YEAR 2018.
INCOME SPENT TRANSPORT REMAINED ALMOST 8% IN YEAR 1968 WHEREAS IT SLIGHTLY PLUMPPED TO 15 % IN YEAR 2018.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart, such as the significant decline in food expenditure and the rise in housing costs. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the statement that expenditure on fuel and power was 'almost identical' is inaccurate, as there is a clear shift from roughly 6% to 3%. Furthermore, the report lacks a cohesive summary of the trends, and some data points are imprecise or misread. While all categories are mentioned, the lack of a clear, analytical overview of the most significant changes limits the score. To improve, ensure data is reported with greater precision and focus on identifying 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 structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused. For instance, 'on the contrary' is used inappropriately to introduce a rise in housing costs, as this is not a contradiction to the previous sentence. Additionally, the transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the lack of varied linking words makes the flow feel repetitive. To improve, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices like 'in contrast', 'furthermore', or 'consequently' to better connect your ideas and show the relationship between the data points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several spelling errors, such as 'CATAGORIES' and 'PLUMPPED', and word choice issues like 'crashed down' and 'it becomed double', which are not standard academic collocations. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary (e.g., 'expenditure', 'proportion'), the overall range is limited, and the errors occasionally distract the reader. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs for describing trends, such as 'decreased', 'surged', or 'remained stable', and ensure correct spelling of key terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include 'THE FOOD SECTOR WAS COVERING MOST OF THEIR INCOME' (tense usage), 'AS COMPARE TO OTHERS' (incorrect form), and 'IT BECOMED DOUBLE' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, and the use of all-caps makes the text difficult to read. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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