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 chart depicts the number of households in the US by their yearly income from 2007 , 2011 to 2015.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that households in the US $100,000 or above annual income was the highest in 2007 and 2015. $75,000 to $99,999 annual income was the lowest in 2011.
In 2007, less than $25,000 showed 25 million households in the US whereas $25,000 to $49,999 displayed nearly 27 million . $100,000 annual households had the more comparted to other annual incomes in the US 29 million. above 20 million and below 15 million households were moderate incomes from $50,000-$74,999 to $75,000-$99,999 in 2007. These two households annual income remained the same in the year 2011 and 2015.
In 2011, less than $25,000 annual income was 28 million and $25000-$49,999 was 30 million which was more than other annual income. In contrast, $ 100,000 annual income was the lowest compared to 2007 and 2015 years around 27 million. In 2015 , $100,000 annual households income was the highest around 33 million compared to less than $25,000 and $25,000-$49,999 was below 30 million households.
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 addresses the task by identifying key features and making comparisons. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. While you correctly identify the highest and lowest categories in certain years, the description of the data is occasionally confusing, such as the statement that 'these two households annual income remained the same in the year 2011 and 2015,' which is not clearly supported by the data. Furthermore, some figures are presented in a fragmented way, making it difficult for the reader to follow the trends. To improve, ensure that your overview clearly highlights the most significant trends across the entire period rather than just isolated points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader navigate the information. However, the logical progression within paragraphs is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of clear cohesive devices. For example, the transition between the 2007 data and the 2011 data is abrupt. While you use some linking words like 'whereas' and 'in contrast,' the overall flow is mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect your sentences and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that builds upon the previous one.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely heavily on repetitive phrasing, such as 'annual income' and 'households.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'had the more comparted to other annual incomes.' To improve, try to use more varied synonyms for 'increase,' 'decrease,' and 'proportion,' and ensure that your terminology is used accurately in context. Expanding your range of descriptive language will help you convey the data more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'households in the US $100,000 or above annual income was the highest' is grammatically incorrect, as is '$100,000 annual households had the more comparted to other annual incomes.' Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around symbols and commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and sentence construction. Proofreading for basic errors in articles and prepositions would also significantly enhance the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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