Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-01

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 the comparison about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.

Overall, it can be observed at a glance that in 1968 the weekly expenditure on food was highest among other categories. While the fuel and personal goods were at lowest during this year. However, in 2018 fgamilies are getting involved in leisure activites more as opposed to other expenditure activities. Fuel and power increases but it also remain lowest during the year of 2018.

In 1968, the money spent on food weekly was 35%. Housing and clothing expenditure was at 10%. While other all categories folloed at 5% or above to 5%. After five decades , a noticeable difference can be seen that the weekly spent of money on leisure became highest with above than 20%. Whereas hosing followed at above than 15% and transport at approximately 15%. However other categories climbed at between 5 to 10%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main shift from food being the largest category in 1968 to leisure leading in 2018, and you include several relevant comparisons. However, some figures and trends are inaccurate or too vague: fuel and power fell from about 6% to 4%, rather than increasing, and the 1968 figures for the lower categories are not reported clearly. The overview also incorrectly says fuel and personal goods were both at the lowest level in 1968; fuel was lowest, while personal goods were about 8%. The response is 143 words, below the required 150, and this limits the detail available. To strengthen the report, check each comparison against the chart and give a concise, accurate account of the main changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs comparing the years. This helps the reader follow the broad movement from food in 1968 to leisure in 2018. However, progression within the paragraphs is uneven: the 1968 paragraph gives only a few figures, while the final paragraph groups the remaining categories vaguely as “other categories.” Linking words such as “While,” “However” and “Whereas” are used, but some connections are awkward or do not clearly express the relationship between ideas. Organise the details into clearer comparisons—for example, categories that rose, fell or stayed similar—and use linking phrases only where they clarify those relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “weekly expenditure,” “categories,” “noticeable difference” and “approximately,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “the weekly spent of money,” “getting involved in leisure activities” and “climbed at between 5 to 10%.” Spelling errors, including “fgamilies,” “activites,” “folloed” and “hosing,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, conventional language for describing data, such as “accounted for,” “rose to,” “fell to” and “remained stable.” Proofreading spelling and choosing natural collocations would make the comparisons easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentence forms, including contrasts introduced by “While” and “Whereas,” and the opening sentences communicate the general topic. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. For example, “Fuel and power increases but it also remain lowest” has inconsistent verb forms and agreement, while “Housing and clothing expenditure was at 10%” has an agreement problem. The fragment beginning “While other all categories…” is also not a complete sentence. Practise forming complete sentences with accurate subject–verb agreement and consistent past-tense reporting, and check punctuation when joining contrasting clauses.

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