Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-29

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 chart illustrates about how family members in a single state devoted their weekly salary in 1968 and in 2018.

Overall, food accounted for the highest propotion of weekly spending in twenty and twenty one century. And the fuel and power were lowest value in both centuries.

Firstly, in 1968 families spent a large amount of money on food almost 35%. In housing families utilized a weekly expense just 10%. Fuel and power usually house members spent a less amount just 7%. Then we talk about clothing and and footware individuals devoted money almost 10%.

Secondly, in 2018 the families spent average amont on household like 18%. In personal goods families spend very less amont of money just 9%. In transport people shockly spent a large amount of money 14%. Lastly, leisure families spend a very large amont the percentage gradually increase in 2018 the ration was unexpected and the value was 23%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the two years and report several relevant figures, including food at about 35% in 1968 and transport and leisure at roughly 14% and 22% in 2018. However, the overview is inaccurate: food was not the largest category in both years, since leisure was highest in 2018, and fuel and power was not the lowest in 2018 because personal goods was also about 4%. Several details are misreported: household goods remained around 8%, not 18%, and personal goods fell to about 4%, not 9%. The response also omits important comparisons, such as the fall in food spending and the rise in housing and leisure. More accurate selection and comparison of the main changes would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs beginning “Firstly” and “Secondly” for the two years. This makes the broad sequence easy to follow. However, the organisation is mainly year-by-year and does not consistently connect figures to show changes between the years. Some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated “Then” and “Lastly,” while “And” begins a sentence in the overview without a clear connection. The final paragraph also moves between categories without a strong comparative thread. Grouping the largest increases and decreases together, and using clear links such as “by contrast” or “whereas,” would improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “devoted,” “percentage,” and “weekly spending,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the intended meaning harder to follow. For example, “weekly salary” is less suitable than “weekly income,” and “families utilized a weekly expense” is not a natural way to describe spending. “Shockly” and “ration” also appear to be incorrect word choices, while “amont” and “propotion” show spelling errors. Aim for precise chart language and avoid conversational or evaluative wording such as “unexpected.” For example, describe a figure as “rose to” or “accounted for” a proportion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can usually identify the categories and years being discussed. However, the range is limited, and errors in sentence construction and verb forms occur often enough to affect clarity. The overview fragment “And the fuel and power were lowest value” lacks an article and a complete, natural structure. In “the percentage gradually increase,” the verb form does not agree with the past-time description, and “families spend” shifts into the present tense when describing 2018 data. There are also awkward sentence boundaries, such as “In housing families utilized a weekly expense just 10%.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build complete sentences around each figure.

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