Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-15
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 illustrates the number money spend on households in the US with people's yearly income in three different years, respectively, 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that the spend on household between $25.000 to $74.999 received higher yearly salary, while higher household spend stayed with lower annual income between $75.000 to $[redacted phone] plus with their annual income.
More spending on households was seen in the 2015, where more than $[redacted phone] was spend by almost 33 million households. While less than $25.000 to $74.999 remained same in 2011 and 2015 with respectively 29, 30, 21, and 15 million, where more than $[redacted phone] spend 28 million.
In 2007, there were 25 million households who was spend less than $25.000 annually and 29 million with more than $[redacted phone]. However, the number was constantly fall with middle three annual salaries, between $25.000 and $99.999 for 27, 20 and 14 million respectively.
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 it fails to accurately report the main features. The overview is confusing and does not clearly identify the trends or the most significant data points. Furthermore, the data reporting is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies; for instance, the claim that 'more than $100,000 was spent by almost 33 million households' in 2015 is not clearly supported by the chart's structure. The description of the middle income brackets is also muddled, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the years. To improve, focus on identifying clear trends, such as the growth in the highest income bracket, and ensure figures are cited accurately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression of ideas is weak. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the use of cohesive devices is mechanical or misused. For example, the phrase 'While less than $25.000 to $74.999 remained same' is grammatically and logically unclear, failing to link the ideas effectively. The referencing is often confusing, making it hard to track which data points correspond to which years. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus would significantly enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. There is a persistent confusion between 'spending on households' and 'number of households by income'. Phrases like 'number money spend on households' are unnatural and impede clarity. The student relies on basic vocabulary and struggles with appropriate collocations related to data description. While the numbers are provided, the surrounding language lacks the precision required for an Academic Task 1 response. To reach a higher band, focus on learning specific terminology for describing charts, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'accounted for'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often obscure the intended meaning. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the number was constantly fall'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'who was spend'), and misuse of prepositions. The sentence structures are generally simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of periods instead of commas for decimal notation, which is non-standard in English. A more careful review of basic sentence construction and verb tenses is necessary to improve clarity and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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