Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-18
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 chart illustrates the quantity of household products that were in personal and rented houses in England and Wales during the years from 1918 to 2011.
The households in rented accommodations fluctuates during the certain time with a decrease in it and in the last there is a minor increase. However for owned accommodations there is a gradual increase in the percentage of households used.
In 1918 there was a massive difference of households in accommodations which were owned and rented about 23 and 77 percent respectively. In the upcoming years in 1939 and 1953 the percentage remained similar about 32 and 68 in personal and rented houses. In 1961, there was a significant decrease in households in private accommodations about 59 percent however for rented ones there was an increase to 41 percent . A decade later both remained the same about 50 percent. From 1981 to 2001, there was an increase of households in private accommodations and its maximum percentage was 69 however there was a decline in rented accommodations to the minimum 31 percent. Lastly, in 2011 there was minor decline in households in owned houses about 63 percent and in rented ones there was minor increase which was 36 percent.
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, identifying the overall trends for owned and rented accommodation. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you state that in 1961, rented accommodation was 41% and owned was 59%, whereas the chart shows the reverse. Additionally, the term 'quantity of household products' is an inaccurate description of the data, which refers to the 'percentage of households'. While you provide a summary and select key features, the misinterpretation of the data and the inaccurate labeling of the subject matter prevent a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction followed by body paragraphs. There is a clear attempt to sequence the information chronologically. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'there was an increase/decrease'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the percentages, which makes the progression of ideas feel slightly disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that the subject of each sentence is clearly defined would enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You use 'quantity of household products' instead of 'percentage of households', which is a significant error in terminology. Phrases like 'in the last' and 'in the upcoming years' are slightly unnatural. While you attempt to use descriptive words like 'massive' and 'significant', the range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that the terminology accurately reflects the data provided in the prompt.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'The households in rented accommodations fluctuates' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'in the last there is a minor increase' (awkward phrasing). There are also issues with preposition usage and article placement, such as 'in personal and rented houses'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over more complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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