Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-14
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 proportion of households in owned and rented accommodation in United Kingdom and Wales between 1918 and 2011.
Overall, rented accommodation recorded the highest share of England household, while this data continuously to declined steadily. However, rented household had the lowest share of accommodation in England and Wales, it significantly increased end of the period.
In 1918, rented accommodation accounted for the largest proportion of household over 75%. it gradually decreased to almost 70%. Furthermore, owned accommodation had the lowest share of households in that time at 23%. it continuously rose to 50% in 1971. and rented accommodation declined to 50% in 1971.
Next details, in England and Wales rented accommodation shows a consistent downward trend over 30% in 2001. then it gradually rose to 35% in 2011. In addition, owned household reached to peak 70% in 2001, whereas owned accommodation slightly declined almost 65% in 2011.
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
You have identified the main trends and provided data points to support your description. However, the response lacks precision in reporting the data. For instance, you state that rented accommodation was 'over 75%' in 1918, but the chart shows it was approximately 77-78%. Furthermore, there are inaccuracies in your data reporting, such as claiming rented accommodation reached 50% in 1971 when the chart shows it was higher, and stating it rose to 35% in 2011 when the chart shows a different figure. To improve, ensure you carefully read the axes and data points to avoid factual errors, and provide a clearer overview that captures the overall shift from renting to owning and the subsequent reversal.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Next details' are not standard academic transitions. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for example, 'this data continuously to declined' is grammatically awkward and lacks a clear subject. The progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words such as 'subsequently', 'in contrast', or 'meanwhile' to connect your sentences more naturally and logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks the precision required for a higher band. You frequently use basic terms like 'share', 'accounted for', and 'increased'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'reached to peak' (should be 'reached a peak') and 'this data continuously to declined' (incorrect verb form). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', 'a significant proportion', or 'a downward trajectory', and ensure your word forms are accurate.
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. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('rented household had', 'data... declined'), incorrect verb forms ('continuously to declined'), and punctuation errors, such as starting sentences with lowercase letters ('it gradually decreased'). There is also a lack of control over articles and prepositions. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and a correctly conjugated verb. Proofreading for minor errors like capitalization and basic tense consistency would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.