Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-05

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 6.5)

The bar chart compares the number of US households, measured in millions, across five annual income categories in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, households earning $100,000 or more and those with incomes between $25,000 and $49,999 accounted for the largest proportions throughout the period. While the highest-income group experienced a noticeable increase by 2015, the other income categories changed only slightly.

In 2007, around 30 million households earned at least $100,000, making it the largest category. This was followed by the $25,000–$49,999 group at approximately 27 million, while about 25 million households earned less than $25,000. The $50,000–$74,999 and $75,000–$99,999 brackets were considerably smaller, at roughly 21 million and 14 million, respectively.

By 2011, the number of households earning below $25,000 had risen to about 29 million, almost matching the $25,000–$49,999 category, which peaked at around 30 million. In contrast, the highest-income group declined slightly to approximately 28 million, whereas the middle-income categories remained largely stable.

In 2015, households with incomes of $100,000 or more increased significantly to around 33 million, the highest figure shown. The remaining income groups changed only marginally, with the $75,000–$99,999 category continuing to be the smallest throughout the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have provided a clear and accurate summary of the data. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the growth in the highest-income bracket and the relative stability of other groups. The overview is well-constructed, and you have made effective comparisons between the categories and across the three years provided. All parts of the task are addressed, and the data is used to support your descriptions effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant changes or anomalies in the data, as you did with the $100,000+ group, to provide a more analytical perspective.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the transition between years is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices, such as 'In contrast', 'while', and 'throughout the period', which help the reader follow the argument without difficulty. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to navigate. The flow of ideas is natural and contributes to a professional tone.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'accounted for the largest proportions', 'remained largely stable', and 'changed only marginally' show a good command of descriptive language. The vocabulary is precise and used accurately to convey the trends in the chart. While the range is sufficient, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' (such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', or 'dipped') would further enhance the lexical variety and precision of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your grammar is strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'While the highest-income group experienced a noticeable increase by 2015, the other income categories changed only slightly.' The punctuation is accurate, and there are very few errors throughout the text. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is clear and professional, showing a high level of grammatical competence that does not impede communication at any point.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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