Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-10
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 given bar chart compares the number of households in US by their yearly revenue in three different years 2007,2011 and 2015.
Overall, in the year 2007 and 2015 households annual income recorded highest in $100,000 and lowest in $75,000-$99,999. In contrast the household salary in year 2011 was top in $25,000 and least in $75,000.
To begin with given chart showed the annual salary of households in year 2007 less than $25,000 at 25Millons and in year 2011 it is increased with 27Millons. While, $75,000-$99,999 was fluctuated in between 10Millons to 15Millons in all three years. Moreover $25,000-$49,999 was the second highest households income 27Millons in 2007 , reached at 30Millons in 2011 and fell with 27Millons.
Furthermore, $100,000 or more salary of households was highest in years 2007 and 2015 made up with 29Millons and 34Millons. Whereas, lowest in year 2011 at 26 millions . However, $75,000-$99,999 households annual income was remained stable in all three years with 21Millons.
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 covers the main features of the chart, but there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For example, you state that the $75,000-$99,999 category remained stable at 21 million, which contradicts the visual data showing fluctuations. Additionally, the summary of the 'highest' and 'lowest' income groups is confusing and contains factual errors regarding the specific figures. While you attempt to select and report main features, the lack of precision in interpreting the data prevents a clear overview. To improve, ensure that the figures cited accurately reflect the chart provided and avoid contradictory statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore', they are sometimes used mechanically or inappropriately. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between years. The logical flow is hampered by the inaccurate data reporting, which makes the comparisons confusing. Improving the use of linking words to show contrast and sequence would help the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use 'households' and 'income' without much variation. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'yearly revenue' (which is more appropriate for businesses than households) and 'salary' (which is only one form of income). The phrasing 'made up with' and 'fell with' is unnatural. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained constant', or 'peaked', and ensure that these are used in the correct context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with article usage (e.g., 'in US'), preposition misuse (e.g., 'increased with 27Millons'), and subject-verb agreement. Sentence structures are generally simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'the household salary in year 2011 was top in $25,000'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and numbers. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring correct prepositional usage would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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