Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-31

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 graph compares the information about the families in one country spending average pattern, presented as a percentage weekly income. Overall, it can be seen that was expense largest proportion of food in 1968, while the lowest percentage of personal goods in 2018.

In 1968, the food expense was largest expense, according of close to 35%, of weekly income. The housing expense was decreased dramatically at 10%, of income. The fuel and power were spent lowest percentage which at 6% and clothing and footwear ware expenses went up slowly about 10%. By contrast, household goods and personal goods and transport were remained the same approximately at 8%. Moreover, leisure using income about 9% in 1968.

Spending fuel and power, clothing and footwear, household goods and personal care leveled of approximately 7% to 8% in 2018. Leisure expense was highest proportion 22% and housing using of weekly income at 19%. However, the food expense was 17% in 2018.

Overall, the chart reveals significantly changes in family spending priorities over the 50-year period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast between the years: food takes the largest share in 1968, while leisure and housing are prominent in 2018. Several figures are also reported accurately, including food at about 35% and 17%, and housing at 10% and 19%. However, the overview is partly inaccurate: personal goods, at 4%, is not the lowest category in 2018 because fuel and power is also 4%, and the later claim that several categories levelled off at 7–8% does not match the chart. Clothing is about 5%, while household goods is 8%. Some comparisons are also unclear or missing, particularly the substantial rise in transport and leisure. A more precise overview and clearer selection of key changes would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the two years. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and transitions such as “By contrast” and “Moreover” show an attempt to connect details. However, the progression is sometimes mechanical, and the final “Overall” repeats the general idea of changing priorities rather than adding a clear summary. Within the 1968 paragraph, the figures are listed without a strong grouping or comparison; the 2018 paragraph similarly combines several categories before highlighting leisure and housing. Organising the details around increases, decreases, and stable spending would make the comparisons easier to follow. Some links between clauses are also unclear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “proportion,” “dramatically,” and “priorities,” and the reader can generally understand which spending categories you mean. However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or repetitive. Phrases such as “families … spending average pattern,” “the housing expense was decreased,” and “leisure using income” do not express the intended meaning naturally. “Personal care” also changes the chart’s label, which is “personal goods.” There are spelling and form errors, including “footwear ware” and “leveled of,” and repeated use of “expense” limits precision. Aim for standard reporting phrases such as “accounted for,” “share of weekly income,” and “rose/fell,” while retaining the chart’s exact category names.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the response is usually understandable. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, with frequent errors in sentence construction, verb forms, articles, and agreement. For example, “Overall, it can be seen that was expense largest proportion” lacks a clear subject and has incorrect word order; “The housing expense was decreased” uses an unsuitable passive form; and “household goods and personal goods and transport were remained” has an incorrect verb construction. Articles and prepositions are also often missing or misplaced, as in “at 10%, of income.” These errors sometimes make the relationships between figures difficult to interpret. Practise building accurate comparison sentences with a clear subject and verb, such as “Housing rose from 10% to 19%.”

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

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