Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-08
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 chart compares the percentage of owned and rented houses accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.
Overall, from 1918 to 2011 the households accommodation rose from rented to owned. In 1918, the number of rented houses were greater but in 2011 number of owned houses increased.
The percentage of rented houses were 78% and the owned houses were only 22%. However, this ratio were start to increase of owned houses from 1939 and of rented houses start to decrease. In 1971, both of rented and owned houses were in the same proportion. There were equal number of rented and owned houses in England and Wales. After 1971, the rented house had a sudden fall and it went to percentage of 40 while owned houses had seen a rise in houses and it reached approximately 70%. Finally, in 2011 the rented houses had only 32% of households and owned houses had 62% in England and Wales
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart, including the starting point, the crossover in 1971, and the final figures in 2011. The overview is present, though it is somewhat simplistic. While the key trends are identified, the description of the data is occasionally imprecise, such as stating the rented houses had a 'sudden fall' after 1971, which is a gradual trend over several decades. Additionally, the final figures mentioned (32% and 62%) do not total 100%, suggesting a slight misinterpretation of the data or a failure to account for the remaining percentage. Overall, the response addresses the requirements of the task adequately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'In 1918', 'However', and 'After 1971', which help to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, although the transition between the overview and the specific data points could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for the length of the response, and the progression of ideas is logical, moving from the initial state to the final outcome.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe trends and proportions. There is some repetition of words like 'houses' and 'rented/owned'. The student attempts to use some descriptive language, such as 'sudden fall' and 'proportion', but the range is limited. There are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'households accommodation', which is slightly unnatural. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate a wider variety of synonyms and more precise collocations related to data description, such as 'the proportion of households' or 'a significant shift'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('this ratio were start', 'both of rented and owned houses were in the same proportion') and awkward phrasing ('the rented house had a sudden fall'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not generally impede communication. The student demonstrates an attempt to use complex structures, but control over these is inconsistent. Improving accuracy in basic verb tenses and subject-verb agreement would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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