Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-18
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 bar graph illustrates the data of annual income of households in US in 2007, 2011 and 2015. at a glance, there were many household who earn millions of dollars per year.
overall, the bar graphs are in different color shades indicating different annual income of households.
in year 2007, there were 29 million households who earned less than
$25,000 a year. the number increased to 34 million household in 2015 who earned less then 25,000 dollars. in year 2011 27 million households who had annual income of $25,000. there many households in 2007 who earned between $25,000-$49,999 dollar. the number of households who earned between $25,000-$49,999 dollar were between 25-30 million in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
the households who earned $50,000-$74,000 where between 20-24 million in year 2007, 2011 and 2015. the households who earned $75,000-$99,999 where between 20-22 million in year 2007, 2011 and 2015. there were 25=28 million household who earned $100,000 or more annually.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify some trends, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes or comparisons between the income brackets. The data presentation is occasionally imprecise, such as stating 'there were many household who earn millions of dollars,' which is not supported by the provided chart. To improve, ensure you focus on the specific data points provided and group them logically to highlight trends rather than listing figures in isolation. The summary of the data is present, but it lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. For example, the jump between income categories lacks clear signposting. While the paragraphing is present, the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by using more varied linking words to connect the data points. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the years effectively. Improving the flow between sentences will help achieve a more coherent response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the same phrasing, such as 'the households who earned,' which limits the range of your expression. There are also some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'less then' instead of 'less than' and the misuse of 'dollar' as a singular noun when referring to ranges. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied terminology to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' or 'experienced a marginal increase,' and ensure accurate usage of plural forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'there were many household'), incorrect verb tense usage, and punctuation errors. The use of complex structures is very limited, and when attempted, they often contain errors, such as 'the number of households who earned... were between.' To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your sentences are punctuated correctly. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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