Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The provided bar chart illustrates the information about the number of households, across five income groups yearly, in the United States in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, the high income group ($100,000 or more) has the highest number of households earning that money yearly on the chart, whereas the $75,000-$99,999 income category holds the least number. While the middle income category ($50,000-$74,999) depicted a consistency through out the period, other income brackets experienced minor fluctuations.

In 2007, the high income bracket ($100,000 or more) accounted for nearly 30 million household earning this figure annually, while the $75,000-$99,999 income category made up for around 15 million households and it hovered around this level all through the timeline as the least number seen on this chart. Furthermore, 25 million people earned less than $25,000 while the $25,000-$49,999 income group accounted for around 27 million households that year.

In 2011, The number of high income group ($100,000 or more) dropped slightly to around 27 million, while the $25,000-$49,999 income bracket topped the chart with 30 million households. Additionally, the number for less than $25,000 income category increased to around 29 million. However, the middle-income group ($50,000-$74,999) remained in the same level at 21 million households for the entire timeline.

Finally in the 2015, the number of the high income group ($100,000 or more) reached nearly 35 million while the other categories faced slight declines in number.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response provides a clear overview and selects key features, such as the trends in the high-income and low-income brackets. However, the analysis is slightly uneven. For instance, the statement that the $50,000-$74,999 category remained consistent is accurate, but the description of the 2015 data is quite brief compared to the earlier years. Additionally, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting; for example, the text claims the $100,000+ group had 30 million households in 2007, whereas the chart shows a different figure. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are transcribed more precisely and that the comparison between categories is more balanced across all years.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological structure. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'While', 'Furthermore', and 'However' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different time periods. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, although the transition between the 2011 and 2015 data could be slightly more refined. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some minor mechanical errors in phrasing slightly affect the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'income brackets', 'fluctuations', and 'accounted for' used correctly. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'earning that money yearly' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'made up for' (which is used incorrectly in this context). The student attempts to use a variety of descriptors, but the vocabulary remains somewhat repetitive. To improve, focus on more precise collocations related to data trends, such as 'witnessed a marginal decline' or 'remained stable'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'the number of high income group' (missing 'the' or pluralization), 'remained in the same level' (should be 'at'), and 'in the 2015' (unnecessary article). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are occasional errors with capitalization (e.g., 'In 2011, The number...'). The control of grammar is sufficient to communicate the information, but more error-free complex sentences are needed for a higher band.

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

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