Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The bar chart compares the number of US households by their annual income in 2007, 2011, and 2015. The figures are measured in million.

Overall, the earning of each households increased gradually over the period. The majority number of households annual incomes was $100,000 or more, while a small number of household earned $75,000-$99,999 among the three years.

In 2007, around 25 million households earned less than $25,000 as their annual income, the figure increased to approximately 29 million by 2011 before ending at about 27 million in 2015. The annual income of $25,000-$49,999 was around 26 million in 2007, which peaked at 30 million in 2011 and decreased by 2015, reaching 29 million households.

Moreover, in all three years annual income of households remained unchanged at 21 million for $50,000-$74,999. Similarly, the figures of income $75,000-$99,999 remained just under 15 million households in all the years. Lastly, the households income of $100,000 or more fluctuated over the period with recorded figures were approximately 29 million in 2007, 27 million in 2011, and 34 million in 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers all parts of the task and provides a clear overview of the main trends. You successfully identified the key features, such as the fluctuations in the $100,000+ category and the stability in other brackets. However, the overview statement is slightly inaccurate; you mentioned that earnings 'increased gradually,' but the data shows mixed trends across different income brackets rather than a universal increase. To improve, ensure your summary reflects the data more precisely. The reporting of figures is generally accurate and supports the main points well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices like 'In 2007,' 'Moreover,' and 'Similarly' to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different income groups. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the progression of ideas between sentences is more seamless, particularly when moving from one income category to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated,' 'peaked,' and 'remained unchanged' correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'The figures are measured in million' (should be 'millions') and 'the households income' (should be 'household income'). The vocabulary is functional and allows for clear communication, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of reporting verbs and descriptive adjectives would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the earning of each households' (should be 'earnings of each household') and 'with recorded figures were' (should be 'with recorded figures of'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and articles. Proofreading for these small, recurring slips will help you achieve greater accuracy.

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