Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The provided bar chart compares the proportion of households owning and renting accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011

Overall, while the percentage of households in owned accommodation increased over the years with a slight drop in the final year, rented accommodation represented a downward trend with a mild increase in the last year.

In 1918, only around 23% of households in England and Wales owned accommodation, the lowest figure on chart, followed by an increase to around 31% in 1939 and it plateaued at this level in 1953 as well before experiencing another raise to nearly 41% in 1961. In 1971, the proportion for both owned and rented accommodation was 50% of households. The figure rose to 60% and roughly 68% of households in 1981 and 1991 respectively and hovered around that level in 2001 before showing a slight decrease to around 64% in the final year.

By contrast, renting accommodation began at approximately 78% of households in 1981 but experienced a drop to 68% in 1939 and remained at this portion in 1953 too before plummeting to around 31% in 2001. Nevertheless, the percentage went up to about 37% in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response effectively covers the main trends and provides a clear overview of the data. You have successfully identified the key turning points, such as the 1971 intersection where both categories reached 50%. The comparison between the two categories is consistent throughout the report. However, there is a significant factual error in the final paragraph: you stated that renting began at 78% in 1981, whereas the chart shows this figure for 1918. This inaccuracy affects the clarity of the data reporting. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are transcribed accurately from the visual aid to the text.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Nevertheless', and 'followed by' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main categories. The referencing is generally clear, though the factual error mentioned in the task achievement section slightly disrupts the logical flow of the data comparison. Overall, the structure is sound and supports the reader's understanding of the information presented.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'plateaued', 'plummeting', and 'proportion'. These terms are appropriate for an academic report. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'raise' instead of 'rise' (a noun vs. verb confusion). While the vocabulary is adequate to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for the highest bands. Incorporating more varied collocations and ensuring precise word forms will help elevate your lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have successfully used complex sentences to describe trends over time. However, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the lowest figure on chart' (missing article 'the') and 'remained at this portion' (inappropriate word choice for 'level' or 'percentage'). Additionally, the confusion between 'raise' and 'rise' is a grammatical error. Despite these slips, the errors do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the text.

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