Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-04

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 5.0)

The chart illustrates the percentage of the people living in their owned and rented homes over the years from 1918 to 2011.

The bar graph shows about 22% of households were living in their own homes, while about 76% were living in the rented accommodation.

Trend of living in the owned houses changes over the years, people started to live in the rented homes. From 1939 to 2001 there is a steady increase in the living of households in rented places. In 2001 the percentage of households living in their owned homes has declined to merely 31%, while the rented living had hit 69%.

The people in England and wales preferring the rented homes rather then owning their own houses. Furthermore, inflation, poverty and lack of jobs is also a major cause of this gradual decrease in the trend of living in owned homes. The graph shows a increase in living in their owned places in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a basic overview of the data but fails to accurately report the main features. You have misinterpreted the trends; for instance, you state that between 1939 and 2001 there was a steady increase in rented accommodation, whereas the data shows a significant rise in home ownership during that period. Furthermore, you include external information regarding 'inflation, poverty and lack of jobs,' which is not present in the chart and is irrelevant to an Academic Task 1 summary. To improve, focus strictly on the data provided and ensure your descriptions of trends are factually accurate based on the visual evidence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the use of cohesive devices is limited. Phrases like 'Trend of living in the owned houses changes' are vague and do not effectively link the ideas. The final paragraph introduces new information that lacks a clear connection to the preceding analysis. To achieve a higher score, ensure each paragraph has a clear focus and use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'conversely', 'in contrast', 'subsequently') to guide the reader through the data comparisons.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and limited. You frequently use the same phrases, such as 'living in their owned homes' and 'living in the rented homes.' There are also issues with word choice, such as 'rented living' and 'rented places,' which are not natural collocations in this context. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and precision prevents a higher score. Try to use more specific terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion,' 'fluctuated,' 'peaked,' or 'remained stable,' to demonstrate a more sophisticated range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'The people in England and wales preferring the rented homes' lacks a main verb, and 'a increase' should be 'an increase.' There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focus on proofreading for basic errors such as missing articles and incorrect verb forms to improve the overall accuracy of your writing.

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