Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-21

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 compares the percentage of weekly income of families spent on multiple items in 1968 and 2018 in a state.

In 1968, the greatest percentage of weekly income in used in foods items which is equal to 35% of the weekly income of the families. The money utilized in housing sector and clothing and footware items is on the second number which is 10% of the income. Leisure is the third entity on which the wealth is spent which is almost 9% of the income. The percentage of income spent on household goods, personal goods and transport is same and it accounts for about 7 to 8% of the weekly income of the families. The least amount of salaries is used in fuel and power in 1968 which is nearly 6% of the weekly income.

However, in 2018 families have spent much of their weekly income in leisure activities which is evident from chart that almost 22% of weekly income is spent in this sector, followed by the housing sector which accounts for 18 to 19% of the weekly income of the families. The food sector is at the third in row, total salary utilized in food is almost 17 to 18% of the weekly income of the people. The transport, household and goods, clothing and footware, personal goods and fuel and power make the least share of weekly income collectively which is 14%, 8%, 5%, 4% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several important comparisons, including the sharp fall in food spending from 35% to about 17% and the rise of leisure to 22% in 2018. However, the response mainly lists figures year by year rather than giving a clear overview of the biggest changes across the period. It also does not consistently report all categories: for example, the 2018 figures for personal goods and fuel are included, but transport and household goods are grouped unclearly, and the final phrase “respectively” leaves the figures difficult to match to each item. Add a concise overview highlighting the shift from food to leisure and housing, then compare the main increases and decreases accurately and clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear two-part structure: the first paragraph describes 1968 and the second moves to 2018. The transition “However” signals the change of year, and expressions such as “followed by” help show ranking. This gives the report a coherent overall arrangement. Some connections are less effective, though: “The transport, household and goods, clothing and footware, personal goods and fuel and power make the least share … collectively” is difficult to follow, and “respectively” does not make the figures’ order fully clear. The repeated pattern of listing categories also limits progression. Grouping categories by whether their shares rose, fell, or stayed similar would make the comparisons easier to follow and cohesion less dependent on repeated sequencing phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “accounts for,” “followed by,” and “collectively,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a chart: “wealth is spent,” “least amount of salaries,” and “third entity” do not fit the context well. “Foods items” and “housing sector” are also imprecise, while “footware” is misspelled (the chart label is “footwear”). Repetition of “weekly income” and “spent” further narrows the range. Aim for precise reporting language such as “share of expenditure,” “accounted for,” and “the smallest proportion,” and check spelling and collocations before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and most of the intended comparisons can be understood. However, errors in sentence construction and agreement are frequent enough to make some statements awkward. For example, “the greatest percentage … in used in foods items” has an incorrect verb form and structure, while “The money utilized … is on the second number” is not grammatically well formed. In “The percentage … is same and it accounts,” the article is missing, and the final sentence has an unclear list structure. Use straightforward comparative sentences with a clear subject and verb, such as “Food accounted for 35% in 1968, compared with 17% in 2018.” Then check articles, agreement, and punctuation in longer sentences.

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