Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-20
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 bar chart illustrates the breakdown of us households across five distinct annual income categories during three specific years 2007,2011 and 2015.
Overall, the figures for less than $25 thousand, $25 thousand - $50 thousand and $ [redacted phone] or more is higher than other. In addition, annual income of $75 thousand to about 100 thousand dollars is the smallest than all three years.
In the three higher income about $25 thousand, $25 thousand - $50 thousand and $ [redacted phone] and more are higher than others. addition annual income of $75 thousand to about 100 thousand dollars is the smallest of last three years.
In the other incomes the data of income $50 thousand to $74,999 is more than $75 thousands to about 100 thousand in three years , around 7 millions US households. In addition, annual income of $75 thousand to about $100 thousand is the smallest than all of data.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| 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 fails to provide a clear overview or meaningful comparisons. The information is presented in a repetitive and fragmented manner, with several inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, the claim that the $75k-$100k category is the 'smallest' is repeated multiple times without providing specific data points or trends over the three years. The response lacks a clear selection of main features, and the data provided is often confusing or contradictory. To improve, you should identify the most significant trends—such as which income brackets grew or shrank—rather than simply listing categories. You must also ensure that the data cited is accurate and clearly linked to the years provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks logical progression. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the ideas within the paragraphs are repetitive and poorly connected. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and often misused, such as the repetitive use of 'In addition' to start sentences that do not logically follow the previous ones. The referencing is also unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of data across the three years. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, distinct focus, such as grouping categories by their growth or decline trends.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. You frequently use the same phrases, such as 'annual income of' and 'is the smallest', which restricts the range of your writing. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'breakdown of us households' (should be capitalized) and 'smallest than all three years' (grammatically incorrect). To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'experienced a decline', or 'accounted for the largest proportion'. Avoid repeating the same sentence structures and vocabulary throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. Examples include 'is higher than other' (should be 'others'), 'is the smallest than all three years' (incorrect comparative structure), and 'data of income... is more than' (should be 'the number of households in the... income bracket'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and incorrect capitalization of 'us'. The sentence structures are mostly simple and often contain errors in subject-verb agreement. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct comparative forms (e.g., 'smaller than' instead of 'smallest than'), and proofreading for basic punctuation and capitalization errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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