Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The bar chart illustrates the number of households in the United States based on their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015. At a glance, the number of households with the income of more than or equal to $[redacted phone] was dramatically rose in year 2015.

At first, the count of households with the income less than $25000 was 25 million, which slightly increased in 2011 at around 29 million. Then the number declined little bit in 2015 and reached at 27 million. Secondly, the number of households with $[redacted phone] or more income accounted for 29 million in 2007. which steadily decreased in 2011. After that, the count increased sharply. Thirdly, the count of households with the range from $25000 to $49999 was at 27 million which escalated and reached at 30 million in 2011. Then, the number was fell little bit at 28 million. Furthermore, the number of households whose income was ranging between $75000 to $99999 shown fluctuations. It was around 14 million in 2004 and then dropped by 1 million. In year 2015, it was reached at 15%. However, the count of households with income range of $50000-$74999 remained almost same throughout given years.

Overall, the number of households from two categories people's income had shown slightly changes throughout given years. which was the number of people with the total earnings from $[redacted phone] to $74999 and the count of individuals with the income range of $75000-$99999.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the chart, but the analysis is inconsistent. While you identify some trends, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For example, you mention 2004, which is not present in the data, and you incorrectly use a percentage (15%) when the chart displays millions of households. The overview is also problematic; it is placed at the end and contains confusing information, such as mentioning an income range of $500,000, which is not supported by the provided chart. To improve, ensure you carefully read the axes and labels, and provide a clear, accurate summary of the main trends in the introduction or immediately following it.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'At first', 'Secondly', and 'Thirdly' are used to list categories, but they do not effectively show the logical progression of the data. Additionally, some sentences are fragmented or lack clear referents, such as the sentence starting with 'which was the number of people...' in the final paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a basic range of vocabulary suitable for describing trends, such as 'increased', 'declined', and 'fluctuations'. However, there are frequent errors in word choice and collocation. For instance, you write 'was dramatically rose' (should be 'rose dramatically') and 'was fell little bit' (should be 'fell a little'). There is also confusion between nouns and verbs. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise vocabulary for describing trends (e.g., 'surged', 'dipped', 'remained stable') and ensure you are using the correct grammatical form of these words in your sentences.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at more complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical errors. Common issues include incorrect verb tenses and passive voice construction, such as 'was reached at 15%' and 'remained almost same'. There are also frequent errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'in year 2015' instead of 'in 2015'. To improve, practice the correct use of passive voice for data description and ensure subject-verb agreement. Focusing on reducing these frequent errors will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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