Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-17

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 6.0)

The bar chart illustrates average weekly expenditure of families in one country from 1968 to 2018.

In an overview, in 1968 biggest proportion of average weekly income was spent on food whereas least on fuel and power. Moreover, In 2018 most spending was on leisure activities a part from this, individual spent lowest on fuel and personal goods.

Initially, most striking change was observed in spending on leisure tasks which doubled in five deacdes from 1968 to 2018. Additionally, average spending on food was 35% in 1968, which decreased by almost 15% in 2018. Almost a same trend was experienced in fuel, clothing and personal goods in which average expenses were grow stangantly from 1968 to 2018.

Moving to remaining data, Household expenditure was remained almost same through 50 years, which was just below 10%. Moving further, housing and transport witnessed a similar growth, which almost doubled through the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrasts: food is the largest category in 1968, while leisure leads in 2018, and household goods remain broadly stable. You also report several relevant figures, including food at 35% initially and housing and transport rising. However, some comparisons are inaccurate or unclear. Leisure rose from 9% to 22%, so it did not simply double; food fell from 35% to 17%, a decrease of 18 percentage points rather than almost 15%. The claim that fuel, clothing and personal goods increased is incorrect: all three declined. The overview also misses transport’s notable rise and housing’s increase. More precise reporting of these changes would make the key features clearer and more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs grouping the data. Phrases such as “Initially” and “Moving to remaining data” help signal progression, and the reader can follow the broad comparison between the two years. However, some linking is mechanical or awkward: “a part from this” interrupts the overview, while “Moving further” adds little to the organisation. The grouping in the third paragraph is also weakened by combining three categories under an inaccurate trend claim. Use clearer topic sentences to group increases, decreases and stable figures, and connect each comparison directly to its evidence. This would make the progression more logical and references easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “expenditure,” “witnessed” and “trend,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “most striking change.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “leisure tasks,” “average expenses were grow stangantly,” and “Household expenditure was remained.” Spelling errors such as “deacades” and “stangantly” also reduce precision. Prefer standard chart language and check word forms: for example, describe spending on leisure, say that figures “rose steadily” or “declined,” and use “household goods spending remained stable.” These refinements would make the vocabulary more precise and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “Food was 35% in 1968, which decreased…” and a comparison clause about housing and transport. The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. Articles and sentence construction are problematic in “in 1968 biggest proportion,” and the overview sentence beginning “Moreover, In 2018” has faulty punctuation and an awkwardly joined clause. Verb forms are also inaccurate in “expenses were grow” and “expenditure was remained”; use “expenses grew” and “expenditure remained.” There are some successful structures, but more consistent control of articles, tense and clause boundaries is needed. Proofreading each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb would improve accuracy.

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