Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

the bar chart illustrates information about how families in one country spent their weekly income between 1968 and 2018.

overall, the chart shows the percentage of weekly income spent on food, housing,fuel and power, clothing and footwear, household goods, personal goods, transport and leisure activities. the highest proportion of income spent in 1968 on food while, in 2018 the highest proportion of income spent on leisure activities. Moreover, families spend equal proportion of income on household goods in both year.

In 1968, families in one country spent 35% of their income on food and 10% of their income spent on housing and clothing and on footwear. Also leisure activities was accounted for 8% and household goods, personal goods and transport was accounted for approximately 7% of their income. Lastly, around 6% of their income was spent on fuel and power.

In 2018, around 22% of their income was spent on leisure activities. While, families spent approximate 4% of their income on fuel and power and on personal goods and closely 17% of their income was spent on food. Furthermore, housing was accounted for 20% and almost 15% of their income was spent on transportation. The chart shows stable amount was spent on household goods between 1968 and 2018 and 5% of their income was spent on clothing and footwear.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the chart’s main categories and identify its two clearest features: food was the largest item in 1968, while leisure was largest in 2018, and household-goods spending was unchanged. Most figures are close to the chart, including food at 35% and 17%, leisure at 22%, and fuel and power at about 6% and 4%. However, there are some inaccuracies: leisure in 1968 was 9%, not 8%, and household goods, personal goods and transport were 8% each, rather than approximately 7%. Housing in 2018 was 19%, not 20%, and transport was 14%, rather than almost 15%. The overview is relevant, but could more clearly summarise the major shifts, especially the fall in food spending and rises in housing and transport.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for each year. This makes the information generally easy to locate. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes weakened by awkward or repetitive linking. For example, “While, families spent…” is an incomplete transition, and “Lastly” introduces a final figure without a clear reason for its position. The overview lists all categories before stating the key comparisons, which makes it less focused. Grouping the figures by increases, decreases and unchanged spending would create a clearer line of comparison across the two years. Use linking words selectively and ensure each paragraph develops one clear purpose.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “accounted for,” “approximately” and “transportation,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are, however, some inaccurate or unnatural choices and repeated phrases. “Leisure activities was accounted for” is an awkward collocation, while “stable amount was spent” is less precise than a direct description of the unchanged share. The spelling “footware” in the response should be “footwear,” and “closely 17%” does not express the intended approximation naturally. Aim for precise chart language such as “accounted for,” “stood at,” “rose” and “fell,” while avoiding repeated “spent … of their income” constructions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, particularly with agreement, sentence boundaries and verb patterns. Examples include “the highest proportion … spent on food,” which needs a verb such as “was spent,” and “leisure activities was accounted for,” where the subject and verb do not agree. “While, families spent…” is a fragment, and “10% of their income spent on housing” is missing a suitable verb construction. Capitalisation at the start of sentences is also inconsistent. Practise complete clauses and accurate reporting patterns, for example, “Families spent 10% on housing” or “Housing accounted for 10%.”

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.