Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-16

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 bar chart illustrates the comparison about average weekly expenses of families in a country in the years 1968 and 2018.

Overall, the most noticeable change in spending is seen in food, housing and leisure. Whereas, only marginal change is experienced on other categories.

In 1968, the largest sum of income was spent on food. However, this sum reduced drastically from 35% to about 17% in 2018. Second most highest sum was taken up by housing and cloths and footware. While the figure for housing rose significantly, from 10% to almost 19% in 2018, figure for clothing and footware reduced slightly from 10% to 5%.

In contrast, expences on leisure was 8%, despite having a small share, escaled three time in 2018, reaching alomost 23%. Fuel, personal goods showed marginal drop, whereas no change was seen in household

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important changes, including the fall in food spending from 35% to about 17%, the rise in housing from 10% to nearly 19%, and the increase in leisure. However, the overview is too broad: saying other categories changed only marginally overlooks transport, which rose from 8% to 14%. The report also ends before completing its comparison of household goods and does not give the transport figures, so coverage of the chart is partial. The leisure figure is described as 8%, whereas the chart shows 9% in 1968; the 2018 value is approximately 22%. The response is also 12 words below the required minimum. Include a complete overview and finish the key comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs comparing categories. Linking expressions such as “However” and “In contrast” help signal comparisons. Nevertheless, progression is weakened by the abrupt ending at “no change was seen in household,” which leaves the final point incomplete. Some connections are also awkward or unclear: “Whereas, only marginal change is experienced on other categories” does not connect smoothly to the preceding overview, and “Second most highest sum” makes the comparison difficult to follow. Group the categories with similar trends, use clear transitions, and ensure each paragraph develops a complete point before moving on.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “average weekly expenses,” “reduced drastically,” “rose significantly” and “marginal drop,” which helps communicate the main comparisons. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “comparison about,” “sum was taken up by,” and “escaled three time.” Spelling errors in “expences,” “alomost,” and “cloths” also reduce accuracy. Some repetition of “sum” and “figure” limits the range. Aim for precise chart language and check spelling: for example, describe a category’s share as “accounted for” a percentage, and say that leisure spending “almost tripled.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a contrast structure beginning “While the figure for housing rose…” and a sentence using “despite.” However, control is inconsistent, particularly in longer constructions. “Whereas, only marginal change is experienced on other categories” has faulty punctuation and an awkward clause structure, while “Second most highest sum was taken up…” lacks a clear grammatical construction. The final sentence is incomplete, and “Fuel, personal goods showed…” does not clearly express the relationship between the categories. Use complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check articles, agreement and punctuation when joining comparisons.

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