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 chart illustrates the yearly income for US households in three years; 2007, 2011 and 2015.
In the year 2007 and 2015, income of $1000,000 was the highest crossing over 30 million households, whereas, $75000 was recorded lowest in all three years sharing the about 15million households.
Moreover, among 20 million households, income of $50,000- $75,000 remained same from years 2007- 2015 respectively. Additionally, 25 million households were at $25,000 of income which slightly increased those number nearly 30 millions households in 2011.
25 millions households from years 2007, 2011 and 2015 had income from $25,000-$50,000 including very slight fluctuations in households numbers.
overall, in 2015, almost 30 million households had the highest income of $100,00 comparing $75000,-$ 99,999 income were at the lowest below 15 million households.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified some main features, the analysis is incomplete and lacks a clear overview of the trends. The data interpretation is also inconsistent; for example, you mention '$1000,000' as the highest income, which is likely a misreading of the chart's labels. Because the response is under-length and contains inaccuracies in data reporting, it does not fully address the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by the lack of sufficient detail and some confusing sentence structures. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'Additionally' are used, but they feel somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the income brackets, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of data across the three years. Improved paragraphing and more precise linking of ideas would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'highest', 'lowest', and 'income'. There are also issues with numerical notation and formatting, such as '$1000,000' and '$75000,'. To improve, you should aim to use a wider variety of verbs and adjectives to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a marginal increase'. The current vocabulary is just adequate to convey the basic meaning but lacks the precision required for a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'income of $1000,000 was the highest crossing over', 'slightly increased those number', and inconsistent use of commas and currency symbols. These errors occasionally cause the reader to pause, though the general meaning remains understandable. To achieve a higher score, you need to focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and more accurate punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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