Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

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, 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, are about 8% while in 2018, is approximately 4%. Moreover, household goods in both 1968 and 2018 has reamined unchanged approximately 8%.

Furthermore, clothing in 1968 is about 10%. In contrast, 2018 is approximately 5%. The fuel and power is the lowest 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 response covers all parts of the task by reporting data from both 1968 and 2018 across multiple categories, and includes some comparisons. However, the selection of features lacks an effective overview. Instead of a cohesive introductory summary, the second sentence attempts to list all eight categories ('Overall, there are eight different things such as food...'), which is not a proper summary of main trends. Furthermore, some data points are slightly inaccurate compared to the visual data, such as stating transport in 1968 was about 7% when the reference indicates 8%, and housing in 2018 as 18% instead of 19%. While key extremes like food and fuel are mentioned, the lack of a proper overview and some loose data reporting pull this down to Band 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay is organized into a brief introduction followed by a series of individual sentences detailing specific categories. However, the progression is weak and feels like a mechanical listing of data points rather than a well-structured analytical report. Paragraphing is neglected, as the vast majority of the text is crammed into a single block following the introduction. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes repetitive or awkward, such as starting multiple consecutive sentences with 'In 1968 is about...' or 'Moreover'. Referencing and logical linking between sentences could be significantly improved to create a smoother, more unified flow of information, corresponding to Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary relevant to the visual data, including terms such as 'weekly income', 'approximately', 'unchanged', and specific categories like 'household goods' and 'leisure'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'manage thier weekly income' (spelling error and unnatural collocation for a bar chart showing spending proportions), 'the food has the highest weekly income spent' (imprecise phrasing), and 'reamined' (spelling error). Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success. The vocabulary is minimally adequate for the task, fitting the Band 5.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly missing subjects or incorrect verb forms when describing data, such as 'Leisure, in 1968 weekly income is 8% while in 2018, is approximately 22%', 'for transport in 1968 is about 7%', and 'the fuel and power is the lowest weekly spending, in 1968 is about 6%'. Punctuation is also flawed with misplaced commas disrupting sentence flow. While some sentences are understandable, these recurring structural inaccuracies frequently cause difficulty for the reader, placing the grammar at Band 5.0.

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