Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-25

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 that in 1968 and in 2018 how a family spent there weekly earnings in a single country.

Overall, in 1968 the most expenditure was in food and least was in fuel and power. while, in 2018 leisure was mostly used as a spending. in contrast, fuel and power also personal goods seen lowest spending in their weekly

Food expenditures was huge in 1968 accounted for 35% in their weekly income comparede to 2018 which became halved around 17%. While there seen a less difference in fuel and power around 4% in both years. Transport was less used as a weekly expense which became less than doubled in 2018 accounted for only 14%.

However, household goods remain plateaued in both years, there seen a huge spent in leisure in 2018 as compared to halved in 1968 which accounted for 12%.Lastly clothing and footware accounted for 10% in 1968 which reduced to 5% in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast between the two years: food was the largest category in 1968, while leisure was highest in 2018. Several figures are also accurately reported, including food at about 35% and 17%, and clothing at 10% and 5%. However, some comparisons are unclear or inaccurate. Fuel and power was about 6% in 1968 and 4% in 2018, not around 4% in both years; leisure was 9% in 1968, rather than 12%; and transport rose from 8% to 14%, so it was not a low or reduced expense. The overview also misses the substantial rise in housing, from 10% to 19%. Selecting and comparing these key changes more precisely would make the summary more complete and developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to comparisons of individual categories. This helps the reader identify the two years being discussed. However, progression is uneven: the overview is followed by figures in an order that does not consistently group the largest increases and decreases, and some links are confusing. For example, “While there seen a less difference” does not clearly connect to the preceding food comparison, while “However” introduces household goods without a clear contrast. Several sentences also run together or end abruptly, such as the overview’s final phrase, “in their weekly”. Use clearer paragraphing and organise the details into meaningful groups, such as categories that rose versus those that fell, with accurate linking phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “expenditure,” “weekly income,” “accounted for,” and “reduced,” and the reader can generally understand which categories you mean. However, several word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “leisure was mostly used as a spending,” “household goods remain plateaued,” and “a huge spent in leisure.” “Less used” is also not an appropriate way to describe a spending share. Spelling errors in “there” for “their,” “comparede,” and “footware” reduce accuracy. Aim for standard reporting phrases such as “accounted for the largest share,” “remained unchanged,” and “spending on leisure increased.” This would make your vocabulary more precise and natural for describing data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “while” and “as compared to,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in sentence structure and agreement appear in examples such as “in 1968 and in 2018 how a family spent,” “Food expenditures was,” and “there seen a huge spent.” The overview also contains a sentence fragment beginning “while,” and the final phrase “in their weekly” is incomplete. Punctuation is sometimes missing, notably where sentences run together after “weekly” and “12%.” These problems occasionally make relationships between figures difficult to follow. Practise complete subject–verb structures and use a clear pattern such as “Spending on X rose from A% to B%.” Continue varying sentence forms, but prioritise accurate, complete sentences.

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