Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-22
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 5.0)
This chart shows the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.
In this chart we have seen two different shades, light grey represents the households in owned accommodation and dark grey represents the households in rented accommodation. One side of the chart showed percentage of households and the other side represents the number of years.
In the earlier 19th century number of households in owned accommodation are very lower than the households in rented accommodation. But from the chart we have seen a gradual increase in owned accommodation and a gradual decrease in rented accommodation. But in the middle of 19th century we have seen that number of rented households and the number of owned households are at same level but after almost two decades we have again seen that the number of households in rented accommodation is again increasing which is not a good sign.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response fails to accurately interpret the data. You incorrectly refer to the '19th century' when the chart clearly spans 1918 to 2011. Furthermore, the analysis is superficial; you describe the trends in very general terms without citing specific data points or years from the chart, which is essential for Task 1. The inclusion of personal opinion ('which is not a good sign') is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which requires an objective summary of the data. To improve, focus on identifying key trends, such as the crossover point in the 1970s, and support your observations with specific percentages and dates.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into three short paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The introduction is repetitive, and the body paragraph lacks clear structure. While some cohesive devices like 'but' and 'after' are used, they are often used to link contradictory ideas in a way that makes the narrative difficult to follow. The referencing is also imprecise; for example, referring to the 'middle of 19th century' creates confusion as it does not align with the provided data. Improving the use of transition signals and ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus would significantly enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic phrases like 'number of households' and 'in this chart'. There is little attempt to use academic vocabulary or precise terminology to describe trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', 'surpassed'). Additionally, there are errors in word choice, such as 'very lower', which should be 'much lower'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate a wider range of vocabulary related to data description and ensure that your word choices are accurate and appropriate for a formal report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. There are issues with verb tense consistency, such as 'we have seen' (present perfect) mixed with 'showed' (past tense) when describing a static chart. There are also errors in comparative structures, such as 'are very lower than', which should be 'were significantly lower than'. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on using consistent tenses for data description and practice forming accurate comparative and superlative structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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