Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-12

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 diagram provides information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in two different years.

Overall, It is clear that food accounted for the highest proportion among thess all expenditure. While families spent their more income in leisure at the end. Although fuel and power recorded lower than other expenditures, and remaining other expenses contributed average proportion of earn.

In1968, 35% of income spent in food items through families.While housing and clothing accounted for 10%. In addition, fuel and power and households goods recorded less than 10% of income, followed by personal goods and transport by almost equal percentage of income.

In 2018, household spent their above 20% income as an expenditure in leisure, increased by around 15%. Whereas food and housing contributed more than 15% of revenue. Additionally, expenditure of transport grew to less than 15% of income. Whereas fuel and personal goods decreased to less than 5%. Families contributed their euqal proportion of revenue in 2018 comaprison to previous year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the two years and include an overview, noting food’s prominence and the rise in leisure spending. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: food was the largest category in 1968, but leisure—not food—was largest in 2018. Several comparisons are vague or incomplete. For example, “families spent their more income in leisure at the end” does not clearly state that leisure rose from 9% to 22%, while the claim that families contributed an “equal proportion” in 2018 is not supported by the chart. Some figures are broadly accurate, such as food at 35% in 1968 and leisure above 20% in 2018, but key changes need clearer, more precise reporting. Select the main contrasts and describe them accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure: an introduction and overview are followed by separate paragraphs for 1968 and 2018. This gives the reader some organisation, and time markers help distinguish the years. However, progression within the paragraphs is not always clear, and several linking words are used mechanically or create incomplete contrasts. For instance, “Although fuel and power recorded lower…” is not completed with a matching main clause, while “Whereas food and housing…” is also left as a fragment. The final sentence about equal proportions is difficult to connect to the preceding comparisons. Group related categories and use complete sentences; transitions such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” should clarify relationships rather than interrupt them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “proportion,” “contributed,” and “decreased,” showing an attempt to describe chart data rather than relying only on basic words. However, the range is limited and several choices or collocations make the meaning unclear, such as “spent their more income,” “recorded lower,” and “average proportion of earn.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “thess,” “euqal,” and “comaprison,” and “revenue” is less suitable than “income” in this context. Aim for precise, natural phrases for proportions and changes, and check spelling carefully. Reusing accurate terms such as “share of weekly income” is preferable to using less suitable synonyms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses beginning with “While,” “Although,” and “Whereas.” However, these attempts are often faulty, and frequent errors sometimes make the intended comparisons difficult to follow. Examples include the missing verb in “35% of income spent,” the awkward structure “families spent their more income,” and incomplete clauses such as “Whereas fuel and personal goods decreased to less than 5%.” There are also problems with articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries, as in “household spent their above 20% income.” Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check verb forms and punctuation. A simpler, accurate comparison is more effective than an unfinished complex sentence.

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