Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-10
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 given vertical column graph depicts the information about the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011. The data has been calibrated into percentage.
Overall, it is crystal clear that the highest ratio of households was in rented accommodation whereas lowest percentage was in households in owned accommodation.
At the fleeting glance, around 75% were in rented accommodation while only 22% masses were in owned houses during the year 1918. Moreover, followed by year 1939 and 1953 both recorded ration in rented was 69%. Surprisingly, in owned accommodation in both years were similar of 31%. In 1961, households in rented accommodation was 59% however in owned houses the percentile incline to 40 percent.
Moving further, the percentile was gradually similar in both owned and rented accommodation in year 1971. Whereas , from the year 1981 to 2011 percentile did not surpass by 40% in households in rented accommodation. Respectively, a frequent change was found in owned apartments which climb to 60%. In year 1991, this ratio jump to 68% while it slowly increases to 69 in year 2001. In year 2011, households in owned settlements was 64% approximately.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 trends for both owned and rented accommodation. However, the overview is inaccurate; it states that rented accommodation was the highest ratio throughout, which contradicts the data from 1971 onwards where owned accommodation became the dominant category. Additionally, some data points are described with imprecise language, such as 'percentile incline' and 'frequent change,' which obscures the clarity of the trends. While the key features are identified, the analysis lacks the precision required for a higher band, particularly regarding the crossover point and the final figures for 2011.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to sequence the information chronologically. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused. For example, 'At the fleeting glance' is an unnatural opening for a data summary, and 'Moving further' is used awkwardly to transition between time periods. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'Surprisingly, in owned accommodation in both years were similar of 31%,' which lacks a clear subject. While the overall progression is discernible, the lack of sophisticated linking words limits the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is a frequent misuse of terminology, such as using 'percentile' when referring to 'percentage' and 'ratio' when referring to 'proportion.' Phrases like '22% masses' and 'owned settlements' are unnatural and imprecise in this context. While the student attempts to use a range of descriptive verbs like 'incline' and 'surpass,' the incorrect application of these terms hinders the accuracy of the report. A more careful selection of statistical vocabulary is needed to reach a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('households in rented accommodation was 59%'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward phrasing ('percentile did not surpass by 40%'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas before conjunctions. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from being considered error-free or highly controlled.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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