Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-09
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 5.0)
The bar graph illustrates the amount of household in the US by their yearly income in the years 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Overall, The number of US households annual income 100,000+ millions showed the highest in this three year, however, the lowest number of US households annual income demonstrated by the 500,000-74,999 millions income group. In addition, the middle brackets income remained same in this years.
In 2007, 100,000 or more millions income stood out as having the highest figure of US households annual income groups in this three year around 30 millions , followed by less than 25,000 millions and 25,000-49,999 income group, which were nearly 25 millions and 27 millions respectively. In addition, 50,000-74,999 income group was the smallest amount of US households annual income groups in 2007, which were almost 21millions and below millions separately.
In 2011 and 2015 ,around 30 millions household income was displayed by the 25,000-49,999 income bracket, followed by less than 25,000 millions and 100,000+ millions, which was under the 30 millions and approximately 27 to24% millions. In contrast, In middle income bracket recorded remained the same and lowest income in three years from below 15 millions to above millions.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarize the data but struggles with accuracy and clarity. The interpretation of the chart is often confusing, particularly regarding the income categories and the units used (e.g., adding 'millions' to income brackets). The overview is vague and contains factual inaccuracies regarding which groups were the highest or lowest. While the response covers the years provided, the data reporting is inconsistent and lacks the precision required for a Band 6 or higher. The main features are not clearly highlighted, and the comparisons are difficult to follow due to the misinterpretation of the graph's axes and labels.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader navigate the text. However, the logical progression is frequently interrupted by unclear referencing and confusing data presentation. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition' and 'In contrast', but they are often applied mechanically or inappropriately given the context. The internal logic of the sentences is often flawed, making it difficult to follow the comparison of trends across the three years. Paragraphing is present, but the ideas within the paragraphs lack a clear, coherent flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic structures. There are significant issues with word choice and collocation, such as referring to income brackets as 'millions' and using 'amount of household' instead of 'number of households'. These errors are frequent and occasionally impede the reader's understanding of the data. There is little evidence of a range of vocabulary suitable for describing trends or statistical data. The misuse of terminology regarding the income brackets significantly impacts the clarity of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but these are frequently marred by grammatical errors. Issues include incorrect subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the middle brackets income remained same'), awkward phrasing, and punctuation errors. While the meaning is generally discernible, the frequency of errors is high, and the control over sentence structure is inconsistent. There is a lack of variety in sentence construction, and the errors in basic grammar and data representation detract from the overall quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.