Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-22

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 given bar graph shows the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between the year of 1918 and 2011 and in percentage.

The cursory glance at the graph is adequate enough to reveal that In 1918 there was 21% households was owned and rented was 71%. In 1939 and 1953 there was 31% households was owned and rented was 69%. it was like wise. however, in 1961 there was 40% owned houses and 59% rented. In additionally, In 1971 there was equal houses on rent and owned was 50%.

Furthur looking at the graph it can be clearly seen the own houses was increased and rented was decline. In 1981 there was 60% of owned houses and 40% rented. In 1991 there was 69% owned houses and 31% rented. In 2001 there was 69% owned houses and 31% rented. at the last In 2011 there was 65% houses was owned and 39% rented.

After analysis the graph shows a positive change.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and report the main shift from renting to ownership, including the point where the figures meet in 1971. However, the overview is vague: “a positive change” does not clearly summarise the overall pattern or the later reversal. Several figures are inaccurate: for example, 1918 is about 23% owned and 77% rented, not 21% and 71%; 1939 and 1953 are about 32% and 68%, not 31% and 69%; and in 2011 the figures are about 64% and 36%, rather than 65% and 39%. The 2001 ownership figure is also slightly overstated. A clearer overview and more reliable reporting of key data would make the response more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from the earlier years to the later years, and the paragraph break helps separate these stages. Some linking expressions, such as “In 1981” and “In 1991,” make the chronology easy to follow. However, progression is limited by the list-like presentation of figures and by unclear or repetitive links, including “it was like wise” and “Furthur looking at the graph.” The final sentence, “After analysis the graph shows a positive change,” does not connect clearly to the preceding details or explain what changed. Organise the report into a clear introduction, an overview of the main trend, and paragraphs comparing the earlier and later periods; use linking phrases to show contrast and change rather than simply adding another year.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “percentage,” “households,” “owned,” and “rented,” so the reader can generally understand what is being compared. There are also attempts to vary phrasing with expressions such as “cursory glance” and “clearly seen.” However, the range is limited and several choices are unnatural or imprecise for a chart report: “positive change” is vague, while “houses on rent” and “own houses” do not describe the chart’s household categories accurately. Spelling errors such as “Furthur” and “like wise” also reduce control. Prefer precise, conventional terms such as “home ownership,” “rented accommodation,” “rose,” and “fell,” and use them consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can usually identify the intended comparisons. However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make the figures difficult to interpret. For example, “there was 21% households was owned” combines an incorrect existential structure with an incorrect verb form; “the own houses was increased” has problems with both the noun phrase and subject–verb agreement. Articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent, as in “at the last In 2011” and the run-on sequence around “In 1939 and 1953.” Use accurate patterns such as “The proportion of households that owned their homes was…” and “the proportion renting fell,” and check agreement, articles, and punctuation in each sentence.

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