Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-02
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 compares the proportion of households living in owner-occupied and rented accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011.
As it can be seen, in 1918 lowest figure was recorded at around 22% whereas highest figure was recorded at approximately 70% in 2001 of the owned accommodation.
Meanwhile, In the 1939 to 1961 a slightly increment was seen in the household in owner whereas 1981 to 2011 percentage was rise in owned accommodation.
In contrast, in rented accommodation highest proportion was recorded at 78% in 1918 whereas the lowest proportion was recorded at 32% in 2001. In 1939 and 1953 the percentage were almost similar. In compares, the percentage fell down from 1961 to 2001. Meanwhile, rented household percentage was recorded at 37%.
Overall, the bar chart shows the households in owner -occupied proportion gradually increasing between 1918 to 2001 except in 2011 whereas households in rented accommodation gradually decreasing between 1918 to 2001 except 2011. Meanwhile in the 1971 both households recorded identical proportion at 50%.
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, including the trends for both categories and the point of intersection in 1971. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention the trends, the description of specific years is occasionally confusing (e.g., '1939 to 1961 a slightly increment was seen'). The report would benefit from a more cohesive summary of the overall trends rather than listing data points in isolation. You have successfully identified the key data points, but the interpretation of the data could be more precise to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally awkward. Phrases like 'In compares' and 'Meanwhile' are used frequently, sometimes incorrectly, which disrupts the flow of the text. The logical progression of ideas is present but feels disjointed due to the reliance on simple sentence structures and limited linking words. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of transition signals to connect your ideas more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms such as 'highest figure', 'lowest figure', and 'percentage'. There are also some awkward collocations and word-choice errors, such as 'a slightly increment' (should be 'a slight increase') and 'percentage were rise' (should be 'the percentage rose'). To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'a significant decline'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'in 1918 lowest figure was recorded' (missing articles), 'percentage were almost similar' (subject-verb agreement), and 'percentage fell down' (unnecessary preposition). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and spacing. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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