Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The bar graph illustrate the ratio of the households that are accommodated either by rent or owned it with in England and Wales around 1918 and 2011.

Overall, the bar chart indicates that there is a prominent increase in the ratio of households living in the rent as compared to owned in 1918, which later went up gradually. However, in 1971 both proportions became balance

From 1918 to 1971, we can see the difference as the ratio of the households living in the rent drop from 78% to 50%, whereas households living in the owned went up from 22% to 50%

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. Because the text is only 101 words, the analysis is incomplete. While you have identified the main trends, such as the crossover point in 1971 and the general shift from renting to owning, you have failed to describe the data from 1971 to 2011. The task requires a summary of the entire period provided in the chart. Consequently, the response is under-developed and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three short paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited. While you use 'Overall' and 'However' to signal transitions, the connection between sentences is somewhat mechanical. The progression of ideas is clear, but the brevity of the response prevents a more sophisticated flow. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is well-developed and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your observations more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You use basic terms like 'ratio', 'increase', and 'drop'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'accommodated either by rent or owned it', which is grammatically and lexically imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuation', or 'trend', and ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of your writing. For example, 'The bar graph illustrate' should be 'illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), and 'living in the rent' is an incorrect prepositional phrase. You rely mostly on simple sentence structures. While you attempt a complex sentence with 'as the ratio... whereas...', the overall range is limited. Frequent errors in basic grammar, such as missing articles and incorrect verb forms, suggest a need for more careful proofreading and practice with sentence construction.

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

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