Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-11

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 chat illustrate about the families in one country spent their weekly income in1968 and in 2018

overall, food accpunted for the largest share spending and where as leasuire and housing consider the higeer portion in 2018 spendingon food declined substantily over the period ,while figure for housing, trasnport and leasuire are increased

In 1986 the food represented higest 35% expediture largest. ategory byaconsiderable margin.Housing,clothing and fule each accounted around 10% while fuel ,power and personal goods and transport reprsent6-8% . Household goods and leisure made uoto smaller portion ,at roughly 7%and 9%.

By 2018 portiin spent on food had fallen to about 17% . In contract ,housing expenditure increased to approximately 17% In contrast , housing expenditure increased approximately 19% becoming one of the largest spending category .leisure experienced the ,ost notable increase ,rising from around 9%to22% spending on transport also grew considerable from approximetly 8%to14%

Meanwhile, expenditure on clothing and footwear dropped from around 10% to 5%, while spending on personal goods decreased to approximately 4%. Fuel and power also declined slightly, from about 6% to 4%. Household goods remained relatively stable, accounting for approximately 7% in both years.

In conclusion, household spending patterns changed considerably over the 50-year period, with less money allocated to food and personal goods and more devoted to housing, transport and leisure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main changes and provide a clear overview: food’s share fell substantially, while housing, transport and leisure rose, with leisure becoming the largest category in 2018. Most figures are accurately reported, including food at 35% and then 17%, and leisure rising from 9% to 22%. This gives the response a strong factual basis. However, the opening description is unclear, and the 1968 account contains a contradiction: housing and clothing are said to be around 10%, then fuel is also included at that level despite being about 6%. The 2018 paragraph repeats the housing increase and gives an inconsistent intermediate figure of 17% before 19%. The overview is relevant, but clearer selection and presentation of comparisons would make it more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph about 1968, and a comparison with 2018. The final summary also reinforces the broad shift in spending. However, progression is weakened by repetition and unclear links. In the 2018 paragraph, housing is described as increasing to approximately 17% and then again to approximately 19%; this interrupts the comparison. The repeated phrase “In contrast” does not always signal a clear contrast, and the opening sentence does not establish the chart’s subject clearly. Some punctuation and spacing also make boundaries between ideas difficult to follow. Grouping the largest increases and decreases more systematically, and using linking phrases only where their relationship is clear, would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a useful range of task vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “declined substantially,” “remained relatively stable,” and “allocated,” which helps communicate comparisons. However, spelling errors and inaccurate word forms are frequent enough to distract the reader: examples include “accpounted,” “leasuire,” “higeer,” “trasnport,” and “expenditure” misspelled as “expediture.” Some collocations are also awkward, such as “the largest share spending” and “experienced the most notable increase” followed by an unclear construction. These issues limit precision even though the intended meaning is usually recoverable. Check spelling carefully and use standard chart phrases such as “the share of income spent on” and “accounted for the largest proportion.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a time comparison beginning “By 2018,” but control is inconsistent. The opening, “The chart illustrate about the families…,” has problems with subject–verb agreement and sentence construction. Other examples include missing or misplaced articles and prepositions, as in “food represented higest 35% expenditure,” and sentence boundaries are unclear in the long 2018 paragraph. The overview also contains a sentence fragment-like structure around “where as leisure and housing consider the higher portion.” These errors sometimes make relationships between figures difficult to interpret. Build shorter, complete sentences first, then add controlled clauses using “while” or “whereas”; check agreement, articles, and punctuation during revision.

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