Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-03

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 graph provides information about households owning and renting accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011.

Overall, it is clear that in 1918 rented accommodation was highest at nearly 78%, while owned accommodation was highest in year 2001. In addition, both trends were lowest in year 1971.

Looking first at owned accommodation, the figure stood at approximately 80% in 1918. It then decreased to around 50% in 1971. Following this, there was a slight fall reaching 35% by 2011.

similarly, rented accommodation started at 20% and subsequently rose to 50%b in 1971. Over the remainder of the period, rented accommodation experienced a steady increase from 50% to 69% by 2001, whereas in next ten year it fell down to 62%.

By the end of the period, owned accommodation fell to 35%from 80%, whereas rented accommodation rose to 69% from 20%. It tend was totally opposite compared to each other.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying the key trends for owned and rented accommodation. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies regarding the data. For instance, you stated that owned accommodation was at 80% in 1918, whereas the chart shows it was significantly lower (around 20%). Similarly, you reversed the trends for the two categories. While you attempted to summarize the information, the misinterpretation of the data points means the task is not fully addressed. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference your descriptions with the specific data points on the axes before writing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Looking first at', 'Following this', and 'similarly' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by the factual errors mentioned in the task achievement section. Additionally, the final paragraph is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear connection to the previous analysis. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the data would enhance the flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'accommodation', 'trends', 'remained', and 'subsequently'. There are some minor errors, such as 'in next ten year' (should be 'in the next ten years') and 'It tend was' (should be 'The trend was'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and ensure that your word choices are grammatically accurate in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'in year 2001' (missing 'the'), '50%b' (typo), and 'It tend was totally opposite' (incorrect grammar). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall quality. To reach a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and proofreading for minor typos. Increasing the use of error-free complex sentences will also help improve your score in this criterion.

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

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