Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-30

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 illustrates how families in one country manage thier weekly income between 1968 and 2018.

Overall, there are eight different things such as food, housing, fuel and power, clothing and footware, household goods, personal goods, transport and leisure. The food has the highest weekly income spent, while fuel and power have the least weekly spending.

Leisure, in 1968 weekly income is 8% while, in 2018 is approximately 22%. Similarly, for transport in 1968 is about 7% while, in 2018 is approximately 13 percent. Personal goods, in 1968 is about 8% while in 2018 is approximately 4%. Moreover, Household goods in both 1968 and 2018 is reamined unchange approximately 8%.

Furthermore, clothing and footware in 1968 is about 10%. In contrast, 2018 is approximately 5%. The fuel and power is thelowest weekly spending, in 1968 is about 6% while in 2018 is 4%. Moreover, housing in 1968 is about 10% while, in 2018 is 18%. In conclusion, the food is the highest average weekly spending, in 1968 is 35% while, 2018 is 17%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the chart across both years and provides relevant comparisons, such as noting that food remained the highest weekly spending while fuel and power were the lowest. An overall trend is attempted, although the structure lacks a dedicated introductory overview paragraph. Data points are generally accurate and aligned with the visual source, e.g., 'food in 1968 is 35% while, 2018 is 17%' and 'Leisure, in 1968 weekly income is 8% while, in 2018 is approximately 22%'. However, the lack of well-paragraphed structure and mechanical listing of data points restricts the development of a fully coherent position. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, fulfilling the requirements for Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is organized mechanically, with almost every category listed in a repetitive sequence of sentences starting with '...in 1968 is... while in 2018 is...'. There is an absence of clear paragraphing, as the text is clumped into one large block following the introduction. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate, such as using 'Furthermore' and 'In contrast' rather mechanically. While the general progression of moving through categories is discernible, the lack of effective paragraphing and repetitive referencing results in a rating of 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suited to the task, including topic-specific terms like 'weekly income', 'housing', 'fuel and power', and 'household goods'. However, there are noticeable spelling errors ('thier' instead of 'their', 'footware' instead of 'footwear', 'thelowest' instead of 'the lowest', 'reamined unchange' instead of 'remained unchanged'). Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success or restricted to basic phrasing. Because the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points despite recurring mechanical errors, a score of 5.5 is appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is inconsistent. Frequent errors occur in subject-verb agreement and prepositional phrasing, such as 'The food has the highest weekly income spent' and 'Household goods in both 1968 and 2018 is reamined unchange'. Additionally, tense and structural omissions are evident, such as 'clothing and footware in 1968 is about 10%. In contrast, 2018 is approximately 5%'. These errors occasionally cause slight awkwardness, though they do not completely impede communication. This performance aligns with Band 5.5.

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