Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-04

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 charts compares the owned accommodation and households rented in England between 1918 and 2011 and also given the percentage.

Overall, the percentage of rented accommodation decline sharply. In the constrast, owened accomodation increased significantly the percentage on this period.

In 1918 rented accommodation was the highest, at approximately 78%, while households in owned accommodation sytood at 22%. In 1939 and 1953, both level off, rented accommodation stood at 68% and houselds in owmned accomodation accounted for approximately at 32%. In 1961 rented accommodation was slightly decreased around 57% as well as accommodation of owned house was rised sharply to 41%.

In 1971, both rented and owned accommodation were remain stable at 50%.In 1981, the rented accommodation stood at 40%, compared with 60% for owned accomodation. In 1991 and 2001, rented accmmodation stood at 68%, and also owned accommodation approximately 32%. In 2011, rented accomodation was rose to approximately 35%, while owned households fell to around 64%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response attempts to address the task by reporting the main trends and making some comparisons between owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales. However, there are significant issues with data accuracy and misinterpretation. For instance, in the paragraph discussing 1991 and 2001, the student incorrectly states that rented accommodation stood at 68% and owned accommodation at 32%, which completely inverts the actual data from the chart where ownership peaked at nearly 70%. Additionally, the overview is rather basic and contains awkward phrasing ("owened accomodation increased significantly the percentage on this period"). While the response covers the span of years provided, the inaccurate reporting of key figures and lack of full development keeps the performance at this level. To improve, the student must carefully verify data points against the visual prompt and ensure that overviews accurately capture the dominant overarching trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response shows some logical organisation with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that attempt to follow a chronological sequence. Paragraphing is used to separate different time periods. However, overall progression is hindered by confusing transitions and mechanical or misused cohesive devices. For example, the phrase "In the constrast" is awkwardly constructed, and the logical flow between sentences is disrupted by contradictory or inaccurate data reporting. Furthermore, referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of ideas smoothly. To reach a higher band, the student should ensure that cohesive devices are used accurately and that the sequence of ideas builds a clear, easy-to-follow narrative of the data without internal contradictions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task. The student attempts some less common vocabulary related to trends, such as "decline sharply" and "increased significantly," but these attempts are undermined by frequent spelling and word-form errors. Examples of lexical inaccuracies throughout the text include "owened," "accomodation," "sytood," "level off," "houselds," "owmned," and "rised." These errors demonstrate a lack of control over word formation and spelling, occasionally causing strain for the reader. To improve, the student needs to expand their range of functional vocabulary for describing data trends and pay closer attention to the correct spelling of common terms such as accommodation and stood.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences and basic past tense forms. Attempts at more complex structures or passive/alternative phrasing frequently result in faulty grammar. Examples of grammatical errors include "The bar charts compares" (subject-verb agreement), "also given the percentage" (incomplete verb phrase), "accommodation were remain stable" (incorrect verb form), and "rented accomodation was rose" (mixed passive and active forms). These frequent errors in verb tenses, voice, and agreement cause noticeable difficulty and detract from the clarity of the writing. To achieve a higher band, the student must practice forming error-free complex sentences and exercise better control over basic grammatical structures, particularly verb tenses when describing past data.

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

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