Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-13

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 7.5)

The bar chart illustrates the number of households in the US across five different annual income groups in three separate years.

Overall, the number of households in the higher-income groups generally increased, while the figures for the middle-income categories showed relatively little change. In addition, the highest-income group became the largest category by the end of the period, whereas the lowest-income group remained fairly stable.

In 2007, the number of households earning less than $25,000 stood at 25 million. This figure rose to 29 million in 2011 before falling slightly to 28 million in 2015. Similarly, households earning between $25,000 and $49,999 increased from 27 million to 30 million in 2011, before declining slightly to 29 million in 2015.

Turning to the middle-income groups, the number of households earning between $50,000 and $74,999 remained relatively stable, at around 21 million throughout the period. The figure for households earning $75,000–$99,999 was also fairly consistent, fluctuating between 14 and 15 million.

Finally, the number of households earning $100,000 or more stood at 30 million initially, fell slightly to 28 million, and then rose significantly to 33 million, making it the largest income group at the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview that highlights the main trends, such as the growth in higher-income households and the relative stability of others. The data is accurately selected and reported, with relevant comparisons made between the income groups and across the three years. The key features are well-supported by the figures provided in the chart. The structure is logical, and the information is presented in a way that allows the reader to easily grasp the main developments in the US household income distribution over the specified period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the overview to specific income brackets. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Similarly', 'Turning to', and 'Finally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different categories of information. The logical flow is maintained throughout, and the referencing is clear, ensuring that the relationships between the different income groups and the time periods are easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'remained relatively stable', 'fairly consistent', and 'fluctuating between' are used accurately to describe the data trends. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations related to statistical trends could elevate the response further. However, the current usage is natural and error-free, which is commendable.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, to report the data. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. The tense usage is consistent and appropriate for describing historical data. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and the overall accuracy is very high, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

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