Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-29
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)
This graph depicts the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011.
The percentage of household in rented accommodation decreased regularly from 1918 to 2001, while the value of households in owned accommodation increased from 1918 to 2001. In 1918 almost 77% people lived on rented accommodation, gradually the value decreased at almost 31% in 2001. This percentage again increased minorly to 35% in 2011. On the other side the people who had their own house was very less in number in 1918, almost 22%. But this value increased regularly to 2001 and went to almost 69%. This value again decreased in 2011 at 64%.
Overall, from 1918 to 2001, the percentage of households in owned accommodation increased and households in rented accommodation decreased. People started to buy their own homes. Therefore, in 2011, the value of owned households decreased and rented households increases.
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, identifying the key trends for both owned and rented accommodation. You successfully highlighted the inverse relationship between the two categories and noted the shift in 2011. However, the report could be improved by including more specific data points to support your descriptions, such as the peak ownership percentage. Additionally, the analysis is somewhat repetitive; rather than simply stating that values increased or decreased, try to group the information more effectively to highlight the overall trend. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated to provide a stronger summary of the data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body, and a brief overview. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the trends in rented accommodation to those in owned housing. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'this value increased', 'this value again decreased'). To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect your sentences more fluidly. Referencing is generally clear, though some transitions between the body paragraph and the conclusion feel abrupt.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey the main points of the task. You correctly use terms like 'percentage', 'households', and 'accommodation'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'decreased'. To reach a higher band, incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations, such as 'fluctuated', 'experienced a downward trend', or 'peaked at'. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'minorly' (which is not standard) and 'very less in number', which sounds unnatural.
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 several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'the value of households in owned accommodation' is slightly awkward, and 'the value of owned households decreased and rented households increases' contains a tense inconsistency. Additionally, 'almost 77% people' should be 'almost 77% of people'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of subject-verb agreement and prepositional usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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