Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-11
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 given graph shows the numbers of households in the USA based upon their income in 2007, 2011 and 2015. We can summarize the results by selecting and reporting the basic features and make comparison where relevant.
The annual income of households in 2007, 2011 and 2015 was divided into main four sections respectively. In 2007 around 25 million households have annual income less than $25k whereas, In 2011 the households increase a little bit nearly around 28 million and it slightly decrease 2 million in 2015.
The households who earns $25k to $50k per annum in 2007 were 27 million on the other hand in 2011 there were 30 million households and in 2015 it decreases a little bit and there were 28 million house holds recorded .
The number of households which earns $50k to $75k per annum throughout the given years in the graph remains same and there was a slightly change in increasing in 2011. and in these years there were 20 million households.
The number of households which earns $75k to $100k also same and they were nearly 15 million households recorded in those years .
The households which earns $100k or more in 2007 there were 29 million house holds then in 2011 there were 29 million and in 2015 there were 33 million households recorded.
in some years it was same and in some years it was different.
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 covers the main features of the chart, identifying trends across the three years. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing data points for each category rather than synthesizing the information into a cohesive overview. While the key features are present, the 'overview' paragraph is missing; the introduction simply repeats the prompt, and the final sentence is vague and does not summarize the main trends effectively. To improve, you should group the data more logically (e.g., comparing income brackets that increased versus those that remained stable) and provide a clear summary of the most significant changes at the beginning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps readability. However, the logical progression is weak. The transition between paragraphs is abrupt, and the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'the households who earns', 'the number of households which earns'). The final sentence is disconnected from the rest of the text and lacks a clear purpose. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that relates back to the overall trend rather than just listing figures.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is significant repetition of phrases such as 'households', 'recorded', and 'annual income'. The student struggles with basic collocations, such as 'the households who earns' (should be 'households that earn') and 'slightly change in increasing'. There is little attempt to use less common vocabulary or synonyms to describe trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'remained stagnant', 'experienced a marginal rise'). Expanding your range of reporting verbs and adjectives will help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue (e.g., 'households... earns', 'households... increase a little bit'). Punctuation is inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods, and some sentences are fragmented or run-on. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining sentence punctuation will significantly improve the accuracy of your 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.