Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-21
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 graph describes about the yearly cost of five different households in United States in 2007, 2011, and 2015.
Overall, the bar chart illustrates that their are variations in the amount of money spent on households in each year. The households with maximum cost are 100,000 dollars or above while the minimum cost is showing between 75,000 to 99,999 dollars.
The bar graph illustrates that the maximum amount of money spent in 2007 is shown in households that range from100,000 dollars or more and 25,000 to 49,000 dollars with cost 29 million and 27 million each respectively. The annual cost fluctuated in 2011 and showed a slight increase in number of households that belong to 25,000 to 49,999 dollars that reach 30 millions in 2015 however the chores with 100,000 or more yearly income swiftly declined in 2011 to above 26 million before showing a rise in income of 33 millions in 2015. The household with less expenditure of almost 25,000 dollar has 25 million in 2007 and the cost increased in 2011 to almost 29 million dollars and again decreased to 28 million in 2015.
On the other hand, the yearly income of households between 50,000-74,999 and 75,000-99,999 remain stabilized during 2007, and 2015 and demonstrated a minor variation in 2011. In all the three years, the average maximum annual income is shown by houshold that belong to 100,000 dollars or more income.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying trends and making comparisons. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the interpretation of the data. For instance, you describe the categories as 'yearly cost' or 'expenditure' rather than 'annual income,' which misrepresents the data provided. Additionally, some figures are cited inaccurately (e.g., claiming 29 million for the 25,000-49,000 category in 2007, which does not align with the chart). While you attempt to highlight key trends, the confusion between income and expenditure and the misreading of specific data points prevent a higher score. To improve, ensure you carefully read the axis labels and legend before drafting your summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical attempt to group information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In all the three years.' However, the flow is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For example, the transition between the discussion of the 25,000-49,000 category and the 100,000+ category is somewhat abrupt. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'chores' or 'the cost,' which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the specific data being discussed. Improving the variety and precision of linking words will help create a smoother progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You frequently use 'cost' and 'expenditure' when the chart refers to 'income,' which is a significant lexical error. There are also some odd word choices, such as using 'chores' to refer to household income brackets. While you attempt to use some descriptive language like 'fluctuated,' 'stabilized,' and 'swiftly declined,' these are often applied to incorrect data points. To improve, focus on using precise terminology related to data analysis and ensure your vocabulary accurately reflects the information presented in the prompt.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'their are variations,' 'the maximum amount... is shown in households that range... and... with cost 29 million'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'the chores with 100,000 or more yearly income'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly regarding the placement of commas and the formatting of numbers. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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