Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-26

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 proportion of households that own and rent accommodation in England and Wales over a period of 107 years from 1918 to 2011.

Overall, the proportion of households in rented accommodation was highest in 1918 but decreased over the period. Households in owned accommodation were lowest in 1918.

Regarding households in rented accommodation, in 1918 it was 78%, and households in owned accommodation were 22% in 1918. But in 1971, both owned and rented households in accommodation had similar proportions of 50%.

In 1981, households in owned accommodation were 60% and households in rented accommodation were 40%. But the proportion of households in owned accommodation increased over the period and it was 68% in 1991, and in 2001, its proportion was highest 69%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and give a broad overview: renting was highest at the start, while ownership was lowest, and the two measures met at 50% in 1971. The figures you include are broadly accurate, including the ownership peak of 69% in 2001. However, the overview is incomplete: it does not mention that ownership then fell to 64% by 2011, or that renting rose again to 36%. The later years receive more detail than the earlier trend, and several dates and values are omitted, leaving the summary only partially developed. The response also contains 127 words, below the required 150. Add the missing end-of-period change and a few key stages to make the main features clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs reporting figures. The sequence from 1918 to 2001 is generally easy to follow, and “Overall” signals the summary appropriately. However, the progression is incomplete because the account stops at 2001 rather than covering the final year, and the body paragraphs do not provide a balanced account of the chart. Repeated use of “But” to connect comparisons is somewhat mechanical, while “Regarding households in rented accommodation” introduces a paragraph that then shifts to ownership as well. Group the figures by the shared trend or by time period, use clearer links such as “By contrast” or “Thereafter,” and ensure the final comparison completes the sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “households,” “accommodation,” “decreased,” and “increased,” so the topic is communicated clearly. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “households in owned/rented accommodation” and “proportion,” and some phrasing is awkward, such as “both owned and rented households in accommodation had similar proportions.” The expression “its proportion was highest 69%” is also not a natural way to report a peak. Use concise alternatives such as “homeowners,” “tenants,” or “the ownership rate,” and choose precise reporting phrases such as “reached a peak of 69%.” This would make the description more fluent and less repetitive while retaining an appropriate academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple sentences and some more developed structures, including the opening sentence with a relative clause (“households that own and rent accommodation”) and the contrast introduced by “but.” Most meanings remain clear, and the figures are presented in understandable sentence forms. Some grammatical issues remain: “in 1918 it was 78%” uses an unclear pronoun reference, and “its proportion was highest 69%” is missing a grammatical link before the figure. The repeated “But” at the start of sentences also makes the sentence connections less controlled. Use explicit subjects, for example, “The rental share was 78%,” and write “it reached its highest point, at 69%.” More varied, accurately controlled comparisons would strengthen the range.

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