Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-19

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 shows the information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and 2018. Units are measured in percentages.

Overall, it is clear that most of the families spent their weekly income on food, while most of the families spent less on fuel and Power.

In 1968, families spent 30% of their weekly income on food, which was the highest figure, however it decreased to 17% in 2018. Families spent 10% of weekly income on housing in 1968 and it then rose to 18% in 2018. In 1968, families spent around 6% of their weekly income on fuel and power and it then decline to 3% in 2018, which was the lowest figure. Families spent their 10% of weekly income on Clothing and footware, however it decreased to 5% in 2018.

On the other hand, families spent their 7% of weekly income on household goods in both 1968 and 2018. In 1968, families spent 7% of weekly income on personal goods and it then took a dip to 3% in 2018. Families spent 7 % of their weekly income on Transport and it rose gradually to 13% in 2018. In 1968, families spent 8% of their weekly income on leisure and it then rose sharply to 22 % in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of the chart comparing weekly family spending in 1968 and 2018. An overview is provided, noting the prominence of food expenditure and the lower spending on fuel and power. Key data points are cited, such as food dropping from 35% (though incorrectly stated as 30% in the text) to 17%, and leisure rising to 22%. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in reading the specific data points from the chart compared to the actual visual data provided (for instance, claiming household goods remained at 7% in both years when the chart shows 8%). Despite these minor data discrepancies, the main trends and comparisons are clearly articulated, earning a solid Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organized into four logical paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs separating the categories. There is a clear overall progression from the introductory statements to specific data points. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 1968', 'however', and 'On the other hand' are used to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is handled appropriately, with related categories grouped together. Although some of the referencing and transitions feel slightly repetitive, the structure remains coherent and easy to follow throughout, corresponding well to Band 7.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a Task 1 response, using appropriate terms such as 'percentages', 'figure', 'decreased', 'rose', and 'decline'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with varying degrees of success, such as 'took a dip' and 'rose sharply'. There are a few vocabulary and spelling errors, such as 'footware' instead of 'footwear' and awkward phrasing like 'most of the families spent less on fuel and Power' (capitalization error). Nevertheless, the lexical resource is sufficient to convey the information clearly, fitting a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using relative clauses and conjunctions (e.g., 'which was the highest figure, however it decreased to 17% in 2018'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'The bar chart shows the information about' (unnecessary 'the information about'), 'Families spent their 10% of weekly income' (redundant article/pronoun), and tense consistency issues alongside minor punctuation slips. Despite these errors, communication is rarely impeded, and the control of grammar aligns with a Band 6.0.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.