Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-17

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 bar graph illustrates the percentages of households in which people buy or rent in two countries England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, in 1918 percentage of rented accommodation was highest. In contrast, in year 1918 proportion of owned households was lowest. Whereas, in year 2001 proportion of owned households at the top while, rented accommodation was smallest.

At the fleet glance, in year 1918 rented households at 78% whereas owned accommodation 22%. Moreover, year 1939 to 1953 both rented and owned households stable at 68% and 32% respectively. Furthermore, owned accommodation in 1961 increased slowly with 40% while rented households fell gradually with 58%. In 1971 both were at 50%.

However, in year 1981 owned households increased sharply with 60% while rented decreased with 40%. In addition, in year 1991 to 1921 both rented and owned accommodation showed minimally change . Whereas in year 2011 rented households percentages declined significantly with 35% while proportion of owned households was fell with 65%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, including the overall trend and key data points. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, the text mentions '1991 to 1921' which is chronologically impossible, and the description of the 2011 data is confusingly phrased. While the main trends are identified, the lack of precision in reporting specific figures and the inclusion of incorrect dates hinder the clarity of the summary. To improve, ensure that all data points are checked against the source and that the timeline is presented logically.

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 misused. Phrases like 'At the fleet glance' (likely meant 'At first glance') and 'Furthermore' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the trends over time. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would help the progression of ideas feel more natural and less repetitive.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'at the top' instead of 'peaked' or 'proportion of owned households was fell'. The repetition of basic terms like 'households' and 'accommodation' limits the lexical variety. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', or 'a significant majority'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and prepositions, such as 'in year 1918' (missing 'the') and 'was fell' (incorrect passive voice). Some sentences are fragmented or lack necessary articles, which makes the writing feel less fluent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the text from achieving a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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