Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-24
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 graph illustrates the percentage of households that are owned or rented for accommodation in England and Wales between the year f 1918 to 2011.
Overall. the percentage of the households in rented and ownwed both experiences fluctuation . Over the period it is seen that houses for rent has declined whereas, homes owned escalated drastically.
To begin with in year 1918 the households in rented were highest with approximately 77% households while the houses in owned is the lowest with around 21% households. In 1939 and in1953 houses in rented decreased slightly with 68% households and on other side around 31 % housholds owned over the period. In 1961 households for rented decreased and for owning increased drastically.
In 1971, both houses for renting and owing reached in same line with exactly 50% households. Over the period houses for own substantially culminated and reached the apex in 2001 with around 69% while houses for renting went down to 30% in 2001. Finally, in 2011, households owing slightly decreased to around 62% while, housholds for renting increased by little reached 35%.
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
The response covers the main features of the chart and provides a clear overview. You successfully identified the key trends, such as the decline in rented accommodation and the rise in home ownership. However, the report lacks precision in some areas; for example, describing the 1971 data as 'in same line' is informal and imprecise. Additionally, while you mention the 1939 and 1953 data, the description is slightly disjointed. To improve, ensure that comparisons are more analytical rather than just listing figures, and focus on highlighting the most significant shifts across the entire period to better satisfy the requirements for a fully developed response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'To begin with' and 'Finally', to guide the reader. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'on other side around 31%'. Furthermore, some sentences lack smooth transitions, making the flow feel a bit choppy. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') is used more effectively would help achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuation', 'escalated', and 'apex'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'houses for own substantially culminated' and 'households owing'. The word 'culminated' is used incorrectly here, as it does not fit the context of a percentage increasing. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that you are using academic vocabulary in the correct context. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' will also enhance your lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'between the year f 1918 to 2011', 'households in rented were highest', and 'reached in same line'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of periods and commas (e.g., 'Overall. the percentage'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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