Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-20

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 compares the proportions of owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011.

Overall, the proportion of owner-occupied properties increased throughout the period untill 2001, before falling slightly by 2011.

In 1918, above 20% of houses were owned, while remaining were rented, accounted for nearly 87%. In the mid-20th century, figure rose gradually, reaching at approximately 32% properties were owned, and others 68% were rented. In 1961, owned properties portion increased by 9%, accounted for roughly 41%, whereas rented accommodation percentages decreased from 68% to 59%.

By 1971, both rented and owned properties figure were at the same level, 50%. In 1991, more than 65% of people owned their private properties, rather than relying on rented houses, whose portion was nearly 32%. By the end of the period in 2011, owned properties portion was slightly decreased from 68% to 64%, while rented houses made up nearly 36%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons between owned and rented accommodation from 1918 to 2011. An effective overview is provided, highlighting the general upward trend in homeownership until 2001 followed by a slight decline, and key data points such as the 1971 crossover point (50% for both) are accurately reported. Minor data reporting inaccuracies occur, such as stating that in 1918 'above 20% of houses were owned, while remaining were rented, accounted for nearly 87%' (where rented was actually 77%), but overall the key trends and figures are well-selected and supported. The response meets all requirements for a Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, demonstrating a clear understanding of the chart's data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory sentence, followed by an overview paragraph, and then breaks down the chronological changes in the body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'Overall', 'In 1918', 'By 1971', and 'By the end of the period', which help to guide the reader through the timeline. However, some mechanical referencing and awkward transitions occur, such as 'while remaining were rented, accounted for nearly 87%' and 'owned properties portion', which slightly disrupts the smooth flow of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body details, earning a solid Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully employing terms like 'proportions', 'owner-occupied properties', 'accommodation', and 'percentage'. There are several attempts to use less common vocabulary and phrase structures, but these are occasionally imprecise or awkwardly formulated, such as 'properties portion', 'figure rose gradually, reaching at approximately 32%', and 'slightly decreased'. Spelling is generally accurate, though minor grammatical-lexical slips occur (e.g., 'untill'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main trends clearly, the persistent inaccuracies in word choice and collocation prevent the score from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as subordinate clauses ('while remaining were rented' and 'whereas rented accommodation percentages decreased'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward structures throughout the response, including missing articles, incorrect prepositions, and tense/agreement issues (e.g., 'untill 2001', 'above 20% of houses were owned, while remaining were rented, accounted for', 'reaching at approximately 32%', 'properties figure were at the same level'). Although these errors do not severely impede communication, they occur consistently enough to restrict the grammatical score to a Band 5.5.

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