Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-07

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 depicts the people households are owned and having rented accommodation in the England and Wales from the time period 1918 to 2011.

In the 1918, the majority of people are lived in rented houses around 75% and 22% were lived in their own house. During 1939 to 1953, the accommodation were remain similar as 31% household were owned and 68% were rented. In the 1971, accommodation are equal by 50%. After the 1971 the household which had owned accommodation was higher than rented houses. Then, the percentage of owned household was increased gradually throughout the years. The percentage of owned and rented household become nearly similar like 67% owned household and near 30% were rented household. By the 2011 the percentage of owned household was above 60% and rented had around 35%.

From 1918 to 1971, the rented accommodation was more than owned accommodation and after 1971 the percentage become opposite to each other till 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying the shift from rented to owned accommodation. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive overview. While the data points are generally accurate, the description of the trends is repetitive. The response would benefit from a more sophisticated synthesis of the data, particularly by grouping the periods more effectively rather than listing them chronologically. The overview is present but could be more clearly articulated to highlight the significant reversal in trends that occurred around 1971.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the chronological progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and repetitive (e.g., 'In the 1918', 'In the 1971', 'Then'). The transition between sentences is occasionally abrupt, and the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the comparison is made without explicitly linking back to the specific data points mentioned earlier. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. There is significant repetition of basic terms like 'household', 'owned', and 'rented'. The student attempts to describe trends but relies on simple phrasing such as 'was increased gradually' or 'become opposite'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more varied vocabulary related to data description, such as 'surpassed', 'fluctuated', 'predominated', or 'a significant shift'. Some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'people households are owned'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. There are consistent issues with article usage ('the England and Wales', 'the 1918'), subject-verb agreement ('people are lived', 'accommodation were remain'), and tense consistency. While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often marred by these errors. The sentence structure is generally simple, and the lack of control over basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage is essential.

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

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