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 bar chart compares the number of households in US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, the number of households who earned $100,000 annually showed and upward trend and peaked in 2015, while those with the lowest income per year throughout the period earned $75,000-$99,999. Meanwhile ,households who earned $50,000-$74,999 yearly were almost at the same level throughout the three years.

In 2007, the two highest paid were the households who earned $100,000 or more and $25,000-$49,999 whereas, almost 15 million households were paid $75,000-$99,000 per year which was the least paid.

In 2011, households who earned $25,000 -$49,999 annually rose slightly to nearly 30 million and were the highest paid. Also, households who earned less than $25,000 annually was about 28 million compared those who earned $75,000- $99,000 yearly who were accounted for the smallest income.

In 2015, about 33 million households earned $100,000 yearly which represented the highest income on the graph while those who earned $75,000-$99,999 annually were roughly 15million   which accounted for the smallest share.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying trends and making comparisons. However, there are inaccuracies in the data interpretation. For instance, you state that $75,000-$99,999 was the 'least paid' category throughout the period, but the chart shows this category was not consistently the lowest. Additionally, the description of the $50,000-$74,999 category as being 'at the same level' is a slight over-generalization, as there are visible fluctuations. While you have selected key features, the analysis lacks precision in reporting the data points, which prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure that your summary of trends is strictly supported by the figures provided in the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific years. The use of cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'whereas', and 'in 2011' helps to guide the reader through the information. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly rather than relying on a list-like structure for each year.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing for the description of trends such as 'upward trend', 'peaked', and 'rose slightly'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the two highest paid were the households' (referring to income brackets rather than the households themselves) and 'who were accounted for the smallest income'. These errors do not impede communication but demonstrate a limited range of sophisticated vocabulary. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for data reporting and avoid repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('households... was about 28 million') and missing articles ('in US'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from being considered error-free. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that complex sentences are constructed with greater accuracy, particularly when dealing with plural nouns like 'households'.

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