Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-09

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)

This chart demonstrate the percentage of houses in owned and rented accomodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, there is a decline in rented housing from 1918 to 2011 and significant rise in owned accommodation in 2011 as compare to 1918.

In 1918, the accomodation in England and Wales is above 20% was owned and more than 70% was rented. Moreover, in 1939 and 1953 both the rented and owned accomodation remained same. Over a decade later in 1971, the percentage of households in owned and rented housing was equivalent in England and Wales.

However, after 1971 the percentage of households in owned accomodation started to increase as the chart shows in 1981, 60% of the households were owned and remaining 40 percent was rented. In addition, more than next two decades the percentage remained indistinguishable. In 2011, the percentage of households in owned started to decline as compare to 1991 and 2001 whereas households in rented accomodation started to rise again

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast and broad movement: renting falls overall, ownership rises for much of the period, and the two are equal in 1971. Several figures are also broadly accurate, including the 1918 split and the 1981 proportions. However, the overview is imprecise: ownership does not show a significant rise “in 2011”; it peaks around 69% in 2001 before falling to 64%, while renting rises to 36%. The claim that the figures remained “indistinguishable” over the next two decades is unclear and overlooks the small changes between 1981, 1991 and 2001. The response is one word below the required minimum, so it does not meet the length requirement. Add a clearer overview and report the late-period reversal precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by chronological details, with a separate paragraph for the period after 1971. Linking expressions such as “Moreover,” “However” and “In addition” help signal relationships between points. The progression is generally easy to follow, although some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “In addition, more than next two decades” does not clearly explain which years are being compared, and “the percentage remained indistinguishable” leaves the reader unsure whether this refers to ownership, renting, or both. Use clearer references and organise the figures into meaningful stages, such as the rise to 2001 and the reversal by 2011, rather than relying mainly on time markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing the chart, including “decline,” “increase,” “percentage,” “households” and “equivalent,” so the main information is understandable. However, the range is somewhat repetitive, particularly through repeated use of “percentage” and “accommodation,” and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural. “Significant rise in owned accommodation in 2011” does not accurately describe the trend, while “remained indistinguishable” is not an appropriate way to say that the figures changed little. There are also spelling errors in “accomodation” and an awkward phrase, “more than next two decades.” Aim for precise trend language and natural collocations, such as “home ownership peaked” and “the proportions changed little.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “as” and “whereas,” and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, however. The opening should be “This chart demonstrates,” and “there is a decline … and significant rise” needs an article before “significant rise.” In “as compare to 1918,” the comparative construction is faulty; use “compared with 1918.” Tense and agreement are also inconsistent in “the accommodation … is above 20% was owned,” and “the percentage … started to increase as the chart shows” would be clearer with corrected clause structure and punctuation. Check subject–verb agreement, articles, and comparative forms, while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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