Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-14

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 6.0)

The bar chart illustrates about the families and their average spending of their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018. The figures are measured in percentage.

In 1968, a family spent 35% of their weekly income on food which was the largest spending among all categories. By 2018, the expenditure on food decreased at around 17%. Followed by Housing and Clothing & Foot ware they allocated 10% for both in 1968. By 2018, housing expenditure increased gradually at 19%. Whereas, clothing and foot ware spending was almost half at 5%.

As for Transport, families spent nearly 8% in 1968 which was rise slowly to 14% by 2018.

Leisure activities accounted for 9% in 1968 then climbed to 22% in 2018. While, weekly spending by families on Household goods, Personal goods and Fuel & Power stood below to 10% in 1968 which were remain below to 10% till 2018.

To sum up, it would be quite interesting to note that families spent mostly on Food items in 1968. By 2018, spending was increase on Housing and leisure activities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully covers all major parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of weekly spending in 1968 and 2018, while making relevant comparisons. For example, the student accurately identifies that food was the largest spending category in 1968 at 35% and dropped to around 17% by 2018. Key trends for housing, transport, and leisure are also correctly highlighted. However, there is a minor tendency to over-generalise or miss precise details for some minor categories, such as grouping several categories together as standing 'below to 10%'. Overall, the task is well addressed, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0, and fits comfortably within Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from 1968 to 2018 across different spending categories. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'By 2018', 'Whereas', and 'As for Transport', though some linking words are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as starting a sentence with 'While, weekly spending...'. Referencing is generally clear, though minor cohesion issues slightly disrupt the flow between sentences. This performance aligns well with the Band 6 descriptor, showing a coherent structure despite occasional faulty linking.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'expenditure', 'percentage', 'categories', and 'activities'. There are several attempts to use less common vocabulary, but these are sometimes accompanied by inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, such as 'decreased at around 17%' instead of 'decreased to around 17%', and 'clothing and foot ware' (spelling error 'foot ware' instead of 'footwear'). Furthermore, unnecessary repetition of phrases like 'weekly income' and 'spending by families' limits lexical flexibility. Communication is not impeded, placing this clearly at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'In 1968, a family spent 35% of their weekly income on food which was the largest spending among all categories.' However, there are several noticeable grammatical errors and awkward structures, including 'The bar chart illustrates about' (unnecessary preposition 'about'), 'spending was increase' (incorrect verb form), 'which were remain below' (tense error), and punctuation issues. While these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the writing from achieving a Band 7.0. The control of grammar is consistent with a Band 6.0.

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

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