Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-11-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below shows the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The bar chart illustrates the percentages of households living in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, the proportion of households in rented accommodation experienced a continues downward trend through the period. However, households in owned accommodation increased continuously thought the period. Both figures were equal in 1971. In 2011, home ownership was more common than rented accommodation.

Looking at the details, households in owned accommodation was at around 23% in 1918. This figure increased approximately 40% in 1961. Moreover, this figure grew dramatically nearly 70% in 1991, than it faced slowly an downward to 65% in 2011.

Remaining to the rented accommodation, was at around 77% at the starting of period. This figure decreased to 67% in 1939. Reaching 50% in 1971 and approximately 31% in 2001. However, this figure faced continues an downward in the end of period. Nearly 31% in 2011, after that, it peaked around 36% in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and give a relevant overview, noting the broad rise in ownership, the fall in renting, their equality in 1971, and ownership’s lead by 2011. Several figures are also selected appropriately, including 23% ownership and 77% renting in 1918. However, the overview overstates the trends as continuous: ownership dipped from about 69% in 2001 to 64% in 2011, while renting rose from 31% to 36%. The final sentence also contradicts itself by saying renting fell to 31% in 2011 and then peaked at 36% in that same year; 31% was the 2001 figure. The response is 145 words, five short of the required minimum, and the 13 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Add a little more accurate comparison and detail.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for ownership and renting. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is weakened by unclear or awkward links. For example, “Moreover, this figure grew dramatically nearly 70% in 1991, than it faced…” does not clearly connect the figures, and “Remaining to the rented accommodation, was at…” is an incomplete transition. The final renting details are especially difficult to follow because the 2011 value is repeated with conflicting figures. Use straightforward chronological sequencing and clear comparisons, and ensure each sentence has an explicit subject. Avoid connectors such as “However” where the data simply continues a trend.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentages,” “increased,” and “decreased,” and the reader can generally understand the topic and direction of change. However, the range is limited and several word combinations or forms are inaccurate, such as “faced slowly an downward,” “at the starting of period,” and “grew dramatically nearly 70%.” These choices make some descriptions less natural and occasionally obscure the intended meaning. Aim for precise trend language and standard collocations, such as “declined gradually,” “at the start of the period,” and “rose to nearly 70%.” Also avoid repeating “this figure” so often; use “the ownership rate” or “the proportion of renters” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the opening sentence is clear and grammatically controlled. However, errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. For example, “households in owned accommodation was” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “Remaining to the rented accommodation, was at…” is not a complete sentence. The construction “increased approximately 40%” is missing a grammatical link such as “to,” and “than it faced…” does not form a correct comparison. There are also problems with articles and sentence structure in “through the period” and “after that, it peaked.” Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and the grammatical patterns used to report changes.

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