Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-21

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 line graph illustrates the proportion of owned and ranted accommodation occupied by households in England and Wales in 1918 and 2011.

Overall, it is crystal clear that from 1918 to 1961 most households lived in ranted accommodation. Meanwhile, from 1981 to 2011 surprisingly households lived in owned accommodation. Moreover in 1971 both accommodation systems were equal.

To begin with 1918, households who owned accommodation their percentage was 23% and who lived by ranted their percentage was almost 80%, In 1939 who owned accommodation their percentage slightly rose with 31% and ranted accommodation their percentage was slightly below than before with 68%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad pattern accurately: renting was more common at the start, ownership rose over time, and the two figures were equal in 1971. The opening and overview also make the chart’s subject clear. However, the report is incomplete: it stops after describing 1939 and omits the substantial changes from 1953 to 2011, including the ownership peak in 2001 and its decline by 2011. The required minimum of 150 words is not met, which contributes to the limited coverage and under-developed reporting of key features. To improve, complete the account with the later years and compare the overall rise and fall in both categories.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and a detail paragraph, and the sequence begins chronologically. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Meanwhile” and “Moreover” help signal the main points. However, the progression is not sustained because the detail paragraph ends after 1939, leaving most of the timeline unreported. Some connections are also awkward: “Meanwhile” does not clearly express the contrast intended, and “To begin with 1918” is followed by a long, repetitive sentence. Develop the chronological account through to 2011, group related periods where useful, and use linking words only when their relationship between ideas is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentage,” “owned accommodation” and “equal,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural. “Ranted” is repeated instead of “rented,” while “lived by rented” and “who owned accommodation their percentage” do not express the data naturally. “Crystal clear” is also too conversational for an academic report. Use precise, neutral phrases such as “the proportion of households in rented accommodation” and “the figure for owner-occupied homes.” Check spelling carefully, as the repeated error changes a key category label.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes simple statements and attempts more complex structures, for example “Overall, it is crystal clear that…” and “Moreover in 1971 both accommodation systems were equal.” However, sentence structures are often faulty or incomplete, and errors sometimes make the relationships between figures difficult to follow. In “households who owned accommodation their percentage was 23%,” the clause is not formed correctly; a clearer structure would be “The percentage of households that owned their homes was 23%.” The long sentence about 1918 also joins clauses with a comma, and punctuation after “Moreover” is missing. Practise accurate comparison sentences and use a wider range of controlled structures.

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