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 provided chart tracks the shifting distribution of household accommodation ownership and rental rates throught england and wales over nearly a century-long period, starting in 1918 and concluding in 2011.

In 1918, only 22% of household owned there homes in 1918, compared with 78% who rented. The percentage of homeowner rose gradually to 31% in 1931 and remained almost unchanged in 1953. lt then rose gradually to 42% in 1961, before reaching 1971.

After 1971, the house ownership has to 60% in 1981 and about 68% in 1991. I peaked at roughly to 69% in 2001,before falling slightly to 65% in 2011. In contrast the renting decreased from 50% in 1971, 40% in 1981, 32% in 1991 and around 31% in 2001. by 2011 the renting has risen slightly to 35%.

Overall, the portion of household owning their homes had increased considerably over the period, while the percentage of rented followed the opposite trend. The two figures has became same in 1971, after which home ownership has become higher than renting.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart well, identifying the key trends and the point of intersection in 1971. You have successfully selected and reported the data to support your summary. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting, such as the incomplete sentence 'before reaching 1971' and the claim that renting was 50% in 1971, which is not supported by the provided chart. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately transcribed and that the overview clearly highlights the most significant long-term trends without minor factual errors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the start to the end of the period. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In contrast' and 'Overall', to link your points. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is interrupted by grammatical errors or missing information, such as the abrupt transition in the second paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence connects smoothly to the next would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'shifting distribution', 'gradually', and 'considerably'. However, there are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'throught' instead of 'throughout', 'there' instead of 'their', and 'has became' instead of 'became'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and proofreading for common spelling and word-form mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use various tenses, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and subject-verb agreement, such as 'the house ownership has to 60%' and 'the two figures has became same'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. While these errors rarely prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are frequent enough to keep the score in the 5.5 to 6.0 range. Focus on mastering basic verb tenses and proofreading for sentence completeness.

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