Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-15

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 bar chart illustrates the average weekly spending by families in one country on different resources between 1968 and 2018.

Overall, the families spent highest amount on food resources throughout the period. In comparison with other resources share lowest proportion. the least share was accounted by personal items.

In 1968, approximately 35% of average income was spent on food by people in one week, while 10% of weekly income were ultilized on clothing, footwear, leisuring activity and housing with, respectively. Whereas, household goods, personal goods and transport was accounted for 8%, and fuel and power made up 6% spending on it

In 2018, leisure spending was accounted for 23 % , following by housing at, 19%. while, transport spending by weekly, at 14%. Similarly, the average spending on fuel and power, clothing and footwear and personal goods were dropped at 5% over the period . The amount spend on household goods around 8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses the task by summarising the main features of weekly spending in 1968 and 2018. An overview is attempted, stating that food was the highest spending category overall, though the phrasing is somewhat clumsy ('In comparison with other resources share lowest proportion'). Key data points are selected and reported, such as food at 35% in 1968 and leisure at 22-23% in 2018. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and awkward reporting of figures, such as stating that 10% was utilized on clothing, footwear, leisure, and housing 'with, respectively'. The comparisons are generally relevant, but the development of ideas lacks precision in places. Overall, the response covers the main trends but struggles with complete clarity and accuracy in data reporting.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response has an overall coherent arrangement, divided into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs for the respective years. However, the logical progression is hindered by awkward transitions and poor sentence linking. For instance, the overview paragraph contains fragmented and confusing ideas ('the least share was accounted by personal items'). Cohesive devices are sometimes used incorrectly or mechanically, such as 'while', 'whereas', and 'following by'. Paragraphing is present, but internal cohesion within sentences often breaks down, making the flow bumpy for the reader. Referencing and substitution need tighter control to achieve a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'proportion', 'ultilized', and 'accounted for'. However, there are frequent lexical inaccuracies and poor word choices, such as 'resources' instead of 'categories' or 'items', 'leisuring activity', and awkward verb-noun collocations like 'spending on it was accounted for'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but word formation errors (e.g., 'leisuring') and imprecise vocabulary choices restrict the score. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message, but control over precise lexical units and collocations is limited.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as subordinate clauses using 'while' and 'whereas'. However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in passive voice formation, prepositions, and tense usage. Examples include 'the families spent highest amount', '10% of weekly income were ultilized' (subject-verb agreement error), 'transport was accounted for', and 'were dropped at 5%'. Punctuation is also problematic in places, with stray commas disrupting sentence flow (e.g., 'housing at, 19%'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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