Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-28
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 bar chart illustrates the difference in yearly income of people in US during year 2007,2011 and 2015. Overall, majority of the US citizens got higher salaries in the recent given year.
To start with the households that were making around $100,000 or more rose from 29 million to around 33 million during the given timeline. To move further into citizens with 25000 to 50000 dollars annual income flactuates being at 26 million in 2007, 30 million in 2011 and then around 28 million in 2015 respectively. Although, people making in between 50 k to 75k remains the sm
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 significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits your ability to report main features or make sufficient comparisons. You have only described two of the income categories and the response ends abruptly mid-sentence. To achieve a higher band, you must provide a complete overview of all data categories presented in the chart and ensure the response meets the length requirement. Currently, the task is only partially addressed because the analysis is incomplete and lacks the necessary detail to provide a comprehensive summary of the trends over the three years.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response shows some basic attempts at organization, such as using an introductory sentence and a transition phrase like 'To start with'. However, because the text is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, there is no overall logical progression or conclusion. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical way. To improve, you should ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas smoothly throughout the entire report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You use basic terms like 'got higher salaries' and 'making around', which are not ideal for an academic report. There are also spelling errors such as 'flactuates' (fluctuates). To improve, you should aim to use more precise, academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'experienced an upward trend' or 'remained relatively stable'. Expanding your range of synonyms for describing changes in data will help you convey information more effectively and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors, such as 'in US' (should be 'in the US') and 'during year 2007,2011 and 2015' (missing articles and proper preposition usage). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the abrupt ending makes it difficult to assess your ability to use complex structures. To improve, focus on using articles correctly, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and practicing the construction of complex sentences to describe trends, such as using 'while' or 'whereas' to contrast different income groups.
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