Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-16

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 graphic presents the numbers of household accommodations that are either owned or rented in England and Wales from the year 1918 to 2011.

Overall, the percentages of households in rented accommodation shows falling numbers except the year 2011 whereas the households in owned accommodation illustrates the opposite by persistent rising until the year 2011 as well.

Households that were in owned accommodation has risen gradually over time starting from 20 percentages in 1918. However, there were a time of it being stable from 1939 to 1953 at around 35 percent. This was also the same case for households in rented accommodation by dropping from around 75 percent in the year 1918 to staying consistent at around 65 percent from 1939 to 1953.

Another big crossover for them was at the year of 1971 where they numbers got equally same at 50 percent. Also, they switched places after 10 years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You highlighted the key crossover point in 1971 and the general inverse relationship between the two categories. However, the response lacks detail regarding the final years of the period (2001–2011). While you mention the trends up to 2011, the description of the data points is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, ensure you include more specific data points from the latter part of the chart to fully support your summary and provide a more comprehensive comparison.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However' and 'Another big crossover', which help the reader follow the narrative. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as 'they numbers got equally same'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey the main trends, using terms like 'gradually', 'stable', and 'consistent'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'numbers got equally same' and '20 percentages'. These errors do not impede communication but indicate a need for more precise usage. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'surpassed', and ensure you use nouns and adjectives correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('percentages... shows', 'they numbers got') and awkward phrasing ('there were a time of it being stable'). These errors occur frequently enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding your points. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions to ensure your sentences are more grammatically accurate.

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

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