Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-27
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The chart below shows the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The given grouped bar chart depicts the information about the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015 respectively. The x coordinate represents the year and the y coordinate represents number of household in millions.
Firstly, The year 2007 shows that approximately 30 million US household had $100,000 or more and 25 million households had less than $25,000. However the range that falls between $25,000 to $49,999, $50,000 to $74,999 and $75,000 to $99,999 shows marginal raise. As per 2007, the maximum was attained by the range $100,000 or more and the minimum was recorded in range between $75,000 to $99,999.
Secondly, the recorded data as per the year 2011 from the grouped chart have the minimum number of households that falls in the range $100,000 or more. The maximum is observed
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response is incomplete, as it cuts off mid-sentence and fails to cover the data for 2015 or provide a concluding overview. Because the response is under the 150-word minimum and fails to address the entire prompt, it cannot reach a higher band. To improve, you must ensure you report on all years provided in the chart and include a clear summary of the main trends. The current attempt only describes a small portion of the 2007 data and starts the 2011 data, leaving the task largely unaddressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' to organize the information. However, because the text is unfinished, the overall progression is interrupted. Paragraphing is attempted, but the lack of a complete structure makes it difficult to assess the logical flow of the entire report. To improve, focus on completing your sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence followed by supporting data points, leading to a cohesive summary of the entire chart.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for a basic description, using terms like 'grouped bar chart', 'annual income', and 'recorded data'. However, the range is limited and there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'shows marginal raise' (should be 'a marginal rise'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, incorporate more varied reporting verbs and nouns related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'a significant increase'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors, such as 'number of household' (should be 'households') and 'the year 2007 shows that' (the year does not show, the chart does). There is also an issue with article usage and subject-verb agreement. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the abrupt ending prevents the use of more complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound before moving on to the next point.
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