Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The bar chart is compares the number of American households across five different annual income categories in three specific years: [redacted phone]and 2015.

Overall the highest-income bracket consistently represented the large number of household in both 2007 and 2015. Despite a temporary decline in 2011. Conversely, the second-highest income group remained the smallest throughout the entire period.

In 2007 just under 30 million households earned$100,000 or more this figure dropped slightly to approximately 27 million in 2011, before surging to peak at roughly 33 million by 2015. The lowest income category under$25000 followed a somewhat similar trajectory starting at 25 million in 2011, and then dropping back down to around 28 million in 2015.

Regarding the remaining three income

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses the task by summarizing the data from the bar chart and highlighting key trends. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data presented, especially the figure related to the lowest income category, mentioning 25 million in 2011 instead of correctly reflecting the range. The response lacks detailed comparisons among all income brackets, which is necessary for a more comprehensive analysis. Therefore, the Task Achievement is competent but not fully realized.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The coherence and cohesion of the response are generally good, as ideas are organized logically with an overall clear structure. However, there are abrupt transitions in the text, such as 'Regarding the remaining three income' which leaves the sentence incomplete, negatively impacting fluidity and clarity. Additionally, some sentences could benefit from smoother connections using cohesive devices. Overall, coherence is maintained but could be enhanced.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used in the response generally conveys meaning but contains some inaccuracies and is overly simplistic in sections. Terms such as "large number" and "peak" are adequate, yet the repetition of phrases like "for both" could be varied to enhance lexical resource. A few word choices, such as "surging" or "trajectory," demonstrate an attempt at precision but could be complemented with more varied vocabulary. The lexical resource is effective but lacks some richness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

Grammatical accuracy is a concern, with several issues affecting the overall clarity of the response. For instance, punctuation errors are present, as seen in "2007.2011and 2015" where spaces and correct punctuation are needed. Additionally, the phrase "is compares" should be corrected to "compares." These errors detract from the overall grammatical correctness. While the range of structures used is acceptable, accuracy needs improvement for higher scoring.

Overall feedback

The response shows a good understanding of the task; you've effectively identified key trends regarding household incomes over the specified years. However, pay attention to the accuracy of the data to avoid confusion—double-check figures when summarizing information. Additionally, improve the transitions between ideas for better flow and ensure all mentioned points are fully developed. Expand vocabulary usage to avoid repetition and add complexity. Focus on grammatical accuracy as well, especially with punctuation, to polish your writing further. These areas for improvement will help boost your score significantly.

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

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