Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-15

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 illustrates the information about the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in two countries England and Wales between the year 1918 and 2011.

Overall, it gives the information about percentage of households on X-axis from 0 to 90 and shows the number of years on Y-axis from 1918 to 2011. It also shows some fluctuations.

Firstly, households in rented accommodation shows downward trend and households in owned accommodation shows upward trend. As we see that there is a gradual increase in owned accommodation as compared to rented accommodation. In 1918, the percentage of rented homes is about 78% and it is highest at that time the percentage of rented houses is lowest round about 23%. In 1939 and 1953, there is no change in the percentage of rented accommodation and it remain same for almost 70%. In 1971, the percentages of both accommodation are same of 50%/ After that from 1981 to 2011 the rented accommodation falls and there is a rise also fluctuations in owned accomodation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and report the central contrast: renting generally declines while ownership rises, with both at 50% in 1971. The opening figures are also close to the chart. However, the overview is partly inaccurate: the axes are described in reverse, and saying there are “some fluctuations” does not clearly summarise the overall pattern. The final sentence is especially unclear and incorrectly suggests renting falls throughout 1981–2011; in fact, it drops to 31% in 2001 before rising to 36% in 2011, while ownership peaks at 69% in 2001 and then falls. Include these key late-period changes and report the main stages more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details, and phrases such as “In 1918” and “After that” help signal sequence. However, progression is uneven: the overview focuses on the axes and vague “fluctuations” rather than clearly presenting the main trends, while the final sentence combines several changes without explaining them. Some linking is repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “and,” and “Firstly” does not lead to a clearly organised set of subsequent points. Group the figures into meaningful periods, then use clear comparisons to connect ownership and renting. This would make the information easier to follow and reduce the impression of loosely connected statements.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “percentage,” “owned and rented accommodation,” “downward trend,” and “gradual increase,” so the reader can generally understand the subject. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise, such as “gives the information” and “there is a rise also fluctuations.” Some word choices do not fit the data description naturally: “number of years” is used for the horizontal time scale, and “highest at that time” is awkward when describing the 1918 figure. Spelling is also inconsistent, as in “accomodation.” Aim for concise chart language and use accurate terms such as “proportion,” “share,” “peaked,” and “declined” to describe changes more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentence forms, for example, “As we see that there is a gradual increase…” and the sentence comparing the 1939 and 1953 figures. However, control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. Examples include “households in rented accommodation shows,” where the plural subject needs a plural verb, and “it remain same,” which also has incorrect agreement and verb form. The sentence beginning “In 1971” contains an incorrect construction and a slash that disrupts punctuation. The final sentence is a fragment-like, poorly controlled sequence of clauses. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and build comparisons in complete sentences, using punctuation to separate each distinct trend.

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