Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 FLOW CHART ILLUSTRATE THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSHOLD IN OWNED AND RENTED ACCOMODATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES FROM 1981 TO 2011.

OVERALL, THE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE LIVING IN RENTEDN HOMES FELL DRAMATICALLY OVER THE 93 YEAR PERIOD,WHILE HOMES OWNERSHIP INCREASED STEADILY. BY 1971 THE TWO CATAQGORIES WERE EQUAL AND AFTER THAT OWING BECOME MORE COMMON THEN RANTING.

IN 1918, ABOUT 77 PERCENT OF HOUSHOLD RENTED THEIR HOMES, WHILE ONLY AROUND 23 PERCENT OWNED. THIS PATTERN REMIAND ALMOST UNCHANGED IN 1939 AND 1953, WITH RENTED ACCOMODATION STILL ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT 66-67 PERCENT AND OWNED FOR ABOUT 23 PERCENT.

FROM 1961, A CLEAR SHIFT BEGAN, THE SHARE OF OWNED HOMES ROSE TO 41 IN 1961 WHILE RENTED FELL TO 59 PERCENT. IN 1971 BOTH TYPES WERE AT 50 PERCENT.

THE TREND CONTINUED IN THE FOLLOWING DECADES. BY 1981 61 PERCENT OF HOUSHOLDS WERE OWNED AND ONLY 40 PERCENT RENTED. OWNERSHIP PEAKED IN 1991 AND 2001 AT AROUND 67 PECENT WHILE DROP OUT TO ITS LOWEST POINT OF ABOUT 31 PECENT.

IN 2011 THERE WAS A SLIGHT REVERSAL. THE PERCENTAGE OF OWNED HOUSHOLDS DECREASED TO ABOUT 65 PERCENT AND RENTED ACCOMODATION INCREASED SLIGHTLY TO 36 BUT OWNING REMAIND THE DOMINANT TENURE.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern accurately: renting declines while ownership rises, the figures meet at 50% in 1971, and ownership remains higher in 2011 despite a reversal. The response also selects useful comparisons across the period. However, the opening says the chart covers 1981–2011, although it begins in 1918, and the overview calls the period 93 years rather than 1918–2011. Some figures are also imprecise: ownership was about 32% in 1939 and 1953, not 23%, and the peak was about 69% in 2001. The final paragraph captures the 2011 change, but the account would be stronger with consistently accurate figures and a clearer overview of the full time span.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the earlier and later years. The chronological progression is easy to follow, and linking phrases such as “From 1961” and “In 2011” help signal changes. However, some connections are awkward or unclear, particularly “Ownership peaked in 1991 and 2001 … while drop out to its lowest point,” where the relationship between the ownership and renting figures is difficult to track. The overview also combines several points in a long sentence. To improve, group the two series more explicitly in comparisons and use clear references such as “the rented share” rather than relying on “it” or an unclear subject.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “fell dramatically,” “rose,” “equal,” “peaked,” and “slight reversal.” These choices communicate the main movements, and terms such as “proportion” and “dominant tenure” show some range. However, several word-choice and spelling problems reduce precision: “flow chart” misidentifies the visual, “homes ownership” is an unnatural phrase, and “drop out to its lowest point” does not express the intended trend clearly. There are also repeated misspellings, including “accomodation,” “ho ushold,” and “pecent.” Use standard chart language and check spelling carefully; more precise collocations would make the report sound more natural and controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including clauses introduced by “while” and “after that,” so there is some structural variety. The main comparisons are generally understandable. However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms recur. For example, “the two categories were equal and after that owing become more common” lacks a correctly formed verb, while “the share of owned homes rose to 41 in 1961 while rented fell” omits a clear noun after “rented.” The sentence beginning “Ownership peaked in 1991 and 2001” also has an incomplete or unclear clause. Review subject–verb agreement, tense consistency, and sentence boundaries, and make sure each clause has a clear subject and verb.

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