Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The bar chart illustrates changes in the proportion of weekly expenditure by families in a particular country across eight categories, namely food, housing, fuel and power, clothing and footwear, household goods, personal goods, transport, and leisure, between 1968 and 2018.

Overall, it is evident that the figures varied considerably across the categories, with some recording substantially higher proportions, while another registered the lowest shares. Food expenditure recorded the highest figure in the first year, whereas fuel and power and personal goods spending each accounted for the lowest proportions in the final year. Meanwhile, household goods expenditure remained comparatively stable over the given period.

Looking at the details, in 1968, leisure expenditure stood at approximately 8%, while three categories, namely transport, personal and household goods expenditure each remained relatively similar at roughly 7%. Thereafter, housing and clothing and footwear spending each remained comparatively the same at precisely 10% in the first year. Subsequently, food expenditure recorded the highest proportion, at exactly 35% in 1968.

Moreover, in 2018, leisure spending accounted for the largest figure, at slightly above 22%. Furthermore, housing expenditure recorded the second-highest proportion, at nearly 18% in the final year. Afterwards, fuel and power and personal goods expenditure each registered the lowest proportions at just under 4% in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the chart comparing family spending in 1968 and 2018. An overview is present, highlighting key trends such as the drop in food expenditure and the rise in leisure spending, alongside stability in household goods. The data is generally accurate, noting that food was highest in 1968 (at 35%) and leisure was highest in 2018 (at over 22%). However, some details are slightly inaccurate or confusingly stated, such as reporting leisure expenditure in 1968 as approximately 8% while also listing transport, personal, and household goods at roughly 7% in the same section, which clutters the progression. Nonetheless, the task is adequately addressed with relevant comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged logically with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and body paragraphs looking at specific details for 1968 and 2018. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the data, with words like 'Meanwhile', 'Subsequent', and 'Moreover' connecting sentences and paragraphs effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed body points. However, referencing and progression within the detail paragraphs occasionally feel a bit mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'each remained' and 'respectively/similarly' formulations, but overall logical flow and organisation remain clear throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, using terms such as 'proportion of weekly expenditure', 'substantially higher proportions', and 'comparatively stable'. There is an attempt to use less common phrasing like 'accounted for the lowest proportions' and 'registered the second-highest proportion'. While word choice is generally adequate, there are minor inaccuracies in collocation and phrasing, such as 'another registered the lowest shares' (referring to multiple categories) and slight repetitiveness in reporting percentages. Overall, the vocabulary is varied enough to allow precise reporting of data without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over grammatical structures. The writer employs relative clauses and introductory participial phrases effectively, as seen in 'The bar chart illustrates changes in the proportion of weekly expenditure...'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is managed well throughout. Grammatical errors are minimal, with occasional minor clumsiness in clause coordination, but these do not impede communication or strain the reader. The complexity of structures used supports a solid intermediate-to-advanced command of English grammar.

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.