Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-10

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 graphs illustrates the change in spending by families in the year 1968 and 2018. In the year 1968, as the weekly income rised, most of the spending was done for food. For housing, clothing, leisure; the spending was moderate, on the contrary the least spending was done for fuel and power as back in the time, people didn't use much electricty, mobile phones, air conditioner or travel much which decimated the spending on fuel and power due to lower consumption. The bar graph of the 2018 indicates that the % of weekly spending on food was lower than back in 1968 but income spent on leisure was the highest as globaisation now reign supreme and people have a tendency on spending more money in fashion and other luxurious items rather than on food. The bars of transportation and housing is higher in 2018 as people moved toward the city for better oppurtunities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast: food takes the largest share in 1968, while leisure is highest in 2018, and you note that food spending falls while housing and transport rise. However, the response does not report the chart’s figures or systematically compare the categories, so several important changes are missed—for example, housing rises from about 10% to 19%, transport from 8% to 14%, and clothing falls from 10% to 5%. Some explanations, such as people using fewer phones or travelling less in 1968 and moving to cities in 2018, are not shown by the chart. Focus on describing the data and give a concise overview before selecting key comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic chronological structure, moving from 1968 to 2018, and linking phrases such as “on the contrary” and “but” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, it is presented as one long paragraph, with no clear overview separated from supporting details. The sequence within the 1968 discussion is also difficult to follow: several categories are grouped together without figures, followed by an extended explanation that is not chart-based. The final sentence adds housing and transport without developing the comparison. Use a clear overview paragraph and separate paragraphs for the main data contrasts, with straightforward links such as “whereas” and “by comparison.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “weekly income,” “spending,” “leisure,” and “transportation,” and attempt more ambitious expressions such as “reign supreme.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a neutral data summary: “the income rised” is unclear, “decimated the spending” does not fit the meaning, and “globaisation now reign supreme” is an unsupported, informal explanation. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “electricty,” “oppurtunities,” and “globaisation.” Prefer precise terms for proportions and change, such as “accounted for,” “share,” “increased,” and “declined,” and avoid speculative explanations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “but” and a reason clause beginning “as.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in sentence structure and agreement occur often enough to make parts awkward. For example, “The graphs illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, “the weekly income rised” uses an incorrect verb form, and “The bars of transportation and housing is higher” has a plural subject with a singular verb. The opening also lacks a clear grammatical construction for comparing the two years. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and agreement, and divide long sentences into shorter, controlled statements. Check punctuation around lists and clauses.

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.