Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-05

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 given bar chart demonstrates the proportion of households in owned as well as in rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011. The chart illustrates the records of households owning and renting accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011. According to the chart, initially in 1918, a maximum people lived in rented accommodation and a very tiny amount of people lived in their owned houses. But with the passage of time, the ratio of rented houses faced a decline gradually. In contrast, the percentage of the people lived in their owned accommodations increased thoroughly. In the start, a wide range of individuals lived in rented accommodations. Therefore, a minimum percentage of people were living in owned houses in 1918. After a few years in 1939, more than 65% of households were in rented accommodation and almost 32% households in owned accommodation. Until 1953, it remained same. Then suddenly, we observed that the proportion of households were in rented accommodation dropped rapidly in upcoming years and it dropped to almost 31% until 2001. Conversely, the ratio of households were in owned accommodation started to increase significantly. Finally in 2011, the percentage of households in owned accommodation declined slightly and the ratio of rented accommodation increased a little bit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main trends in the data, such as the overall decline in rented accommodation and the rise in home ownership. However, the response lacks a clear overview paragraph, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1. You have included some specific data points, but the description of the trends is somewhat repetitive. To improve, ensure you group the data logically rather than listing years chronologically. Additionally, ensure that your summary highlights the most significant changes across the entire period rather than just describing the start and end points in isolation. The inclusion of a clear 'overview' sentence after the introduction would significantly strengthen your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is generally coherent, and the information is organized in a logical sequence. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Conversely', and 'Finally', which help the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the report is contained within one large paragraph. Breaking the text into two distinct paragraphs—one for the initial trends and one for the later developments—would improve the structure. Additionally, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother to avoid a repetitive 'list-like' feel.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the main points clearly. You use terms like 'proportion', 'ratio', and 'accommodation' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic descriptors like 'tiny amount', 'wide range', and 'a little bit'. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'a significant minority', 'a substantial proportion', or 'a marginal increase'. You also repeat the phrase 'rented accommodation' and 'owned accommodation' frequently; using synonyms or referencing techniques would demonstrate better lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'a maximum people lived' (should be 'the majority of people') and 'the percentage of the people lived' (should be 'the percentage of people living'). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses would help you produce more error-free, complex sentences.

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

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