Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-20

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 details about families' weekly expenditure across 8 different categories in the years 1968 and 2018.

It is clear that families spent a higher percentage of weekly income for food in 1968, while in 2018, people paid more money on leisure activities. Fuel and power accounted for the lowest proportion in both years. There were no significant changes on amount spent towards household goods in the given period.

Although people disbursed huge proportion of income 35% on food in 1968, it reduced to 17% in 2018. On the other hand, leisure category accounted for a largest percentage of expenditure in 2018 at 23%, whereas it was just 8% in 1968. Housing expense was not the largest contributor in 1968, but in 2018 it remained second-largest weekly spent proportion.

There was a significant increase in transport from 8% to 14% in 2018. However, household goods r

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important features accurately: food fell from 35% to 17%, leisure rose substantially, transport increased, and household-goods spending was unchanged. The overview also notes that food led in 1968 and leisure in 2018. However, the account is incomplete: the response ends mid-sentence (“However, household goods r”), leaving the final comparison unfinished, and it gives little detail on categories such as clothing and personal goods. The claim that fuel and power was the lowest in both years is not accurate for 2018, when personal goods was also 4% (joint-lowest). The response is also two words below the required minimum. Develop the overview and report a fuller selection of comparisons to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs reporting specific figures. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand” and “However” help signal contrasts, and the main comparisons are generally easy to follow. Nevertheless, progression is limited because several categories are left unreported, and the final sentence is cut off, so the ending feels abrupt and the last transition has no completed point. Some connections are also imprecise: “There were no significant changes” is followed by no supporting figure, while the later “However” does not lead to a finished contrast. Group the categories more systematically and complete each comparison so the paragraphing and linking create a clear progression from overview to details.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “proportion,” “expenditure,” and “significant increase.” These choices allow you to describe changes and compare the two years, and the meaning is generally clear. Some collocations are awkward or imprecise, however: “disbursed huge proportion of income” is not a natural way to describe household spending, and “largest percentage of expenditure” needs an article. “Weekly spent proportion” is also unclear, while “footware” is misspelled in the chart label if you intended to reproduce it. Aim for precise, natural phrases such as “spent 35% of their income on food” and “the second-highest share of weekly spending.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “Although” and a comparison using “whereas.” Most of the intended meaning can be understood, but some grammatical errors remain. In “families spent a higher percentage of weekly income for food,” the preposition pattern is incorrect; use “spent a higher percentage of their income on food.” “A largest percentage” needs the definite article “the,” and “There were no significant changes on amount spent” has an incomplete noun phrase and an unsuitable preposition. The final sentence is also unfinished, preventing the reader from seeing how the clause was meant to continue. Check articles, prepositions, and sentence completion during revision, while retaining your attempts at varied structures.

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