Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

THE BAR CHART COMPARES THE PROPORTION OF HOUSEHOLDS IN RENTED AND OWNED ACCOMMODATION IN THE COUNTRY OF ENGLAND AND WALES FROM 1918 TO 2011.

OVERALL, IT CLEARLY SEEMS THAT EARLIER, THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS IN BOTH COUNTRIES OF ENGLAND AND WALES PREFERRED RENTAL HOUSING ACCOMMODATION. HOWEVER, A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF RESIDENTS GRADUALLY SHIFTED TO OWNED HOUSING BY 2011.

TO BEGIN WITH, IN THE YEAR 1918, NEARLY 80 PERCENT [%] OF RESIDENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES CHOSE HOUSEHOLDS IN RENTED ACCOMMODATION, AND NEARLY 20 PERCENT PREFERRED OWNED HOUSING. MOVING FURTHER TO THE YEARS 1939 AND 1953, THE RATIO PLATEAUED AT ALMOST 70 AND 30 FOR RENTED AND OWNED HOUSEHOLD RESIDENCES.

SURPRISINGLY, IN 1971, BOTH OWNED AND RENTED HIT 50 PERCENT, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THE EQUAL LIKING FOR BOTH COUNTRIES.

BY STARK CONTRAST, FROM 1981 TO 2001, OUT OF 70%, ALMOST 30 % OF RESIDENTS SWITCHED TO RENTED AND OTHERS TO OWNED HOUSING. MEANWHILE, THE RATIO DROPPED SLIGHTLY TO NEAR 60 PERCENT HOUSING OWNERSHIP AND RENTED HOUSING CLOSE TO 40 PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying the clear trend of shifting from rented to owned accommodation. However, the analysis of the data is inconsistent. For instance, the description of the period from 1981 to 2001 is confusing and mathematically inaccurate based on the provided chart, as the percentages mentioned do not align with the visual data. While the overview is clear, the lack of precision in reporting the figures for the later years prevents a higher band score. The response would benefit from more careful data selection and clearer comparisons between the two categories.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moving further', and 'By stark contrast' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the final paragraph is unclear, particularly the phrase 'out of 70%, almost 30% of residents switched', which lacks logical clarity. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal flow within the final paragraph is hampered by imprecise reporting of the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with attempts to use descriptive language like 'plateaued', 'stark contrast', and 'proportion'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'equal liking for both countries' (referring to the categories of housing rather than the countries themselves) and 'chose households in rented accommodation'. While the range is sufficient to convey the main points, the lack of precision in terminology limits the score. The vocabulary is functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'it clearly seems that earlier', which is slightly unnatural, and the misuse of 'respectively' at the end of the final paragraph, where it does not correctly link to the preceding figures. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the overall control of complex structures is inconsistent. While errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The use of capitalization for the entire text is also inappropriate for formal writing.

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

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