Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-07

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 graph illustrate the households in accommodation owned and rented by the residents of England and Wales from year 1918 till year 2011.

Initially, the percentage of households in the privately owned property is 20 in the year 1918 but we see a considerable increment in the upcoming years till the year 2001 and touches to 69%. Whereas from the year 2001 to 2011 we noticed a decline and it reaches 63%.

On the other hand, the households in rented housing is 78% in 1918. While in the years ahead we see a gradual decrease till the year 1991. Moreover from year 1991 to 2001 to ratio remains constant but from the year 2001 to 2011 it slightly increases.

In the year 1971 both the rented houses and personal properties reaches on the the same percentage of households which is 50% and that is the point where they remain same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, including the trends for both owned and rented accommodation. You successfully identified the starting points, the peak in 2001, and the crossover point in 1971. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph that highlights the most significant trends, such as the inverse relationship between the two categories over the period. While you have reported the data accurately, the analysis could be more sophisticated by grouping the data more effectively rather than listing figures chronologically. The inclusion of an overview is essential for a higher band score in Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices like 'Initially', 'Whereas', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the phrasing 'that is the point where they remain same' is awkward. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe trends such as 'considerable increment', 'decline', and 'gradual decrease'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'bar chart graph' (redundant) and 'to ratio remains constant' (should be 'the ratio'). You also use 'personal properties' to refer to owned accommodation, which is not the most precise term in this context. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description and avoid repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The bar chart graph illustrate', 'properties reaches') and incorrect preposition usage ('reaches on the the same percentage'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of articles will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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