Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-01

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 chart illustrates the comparison of rented and personal accommodation in England and wales over a period between 1918 and 2011.

overall, the bar graph shows a significant rise in percentage owned accommodation and tremendous decline in percentage of rented households. however both figures remained stable in the era of 1971.

during the period between 1918 to 1961, there is a slight increase in owned accommodation from 25% to 40%, however this percentage increased to almost 70% over the period of [redacted phone] before minimal decline in 2011 to 65%. In contrast, it can be seen that rented accommodation is on peak in 1918 which is almost 75% and started declining before comes to stability in 1971. there is fluctuation in percentage between 1981 to 2011, remained to almost 35%.

in summary we can say that there is huge increase in owned accommodation while continuous decrease in rented accomm

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main trends and provided some data points, the summary is incomplete as the final sentence is cut off mid-word. To improve, ensure you provide a complete overview and include all necessary data points without exceeding the word limit. The description of the trends is generally accurate, but the lack of a finished conclusion prevents a higher score. Ensure you proofread to ensure the entire response is present and fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'overall', 'however', and 'in contrast' to link your points. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and the abrupt ending significantly disrupts the coherence of the final paragraph. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your paragraphs are balanced and fully completed to maintain a smooth logical flow throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significant rise', 'tremendous decline', and 'fluctuation'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'personal accommodation' instead of 'owner-occupied' and 'in the era of 1971' which is stylistically awkward. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main message, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding your range of academic collocations and ensuring correct word forms will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'rented accommodation is on peak' (should be 'at its peak') and 'before comes to stability' (should be 'before reaching stability'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and tense consistency. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. To reach a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and articles in academic writing.

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

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