Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-23

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 given bar chart depicts the information about the number of households in the US in time span of 2007, 2011 and 2015 with their annual income.

From the overall perspective of the chart, the year 2015 had the most amount of income in all categories as compared to the other years. It means the households has increased their in come over the time.

To begin with the year 2007. The highest amount of annual income is of $100,000 or more with 29 million households. The lowest annual income is of $75,000-$99,999 with 14 million households.

Secondly the year 2011. The highest amount is of annual income is of $25,000-$49,999 with 30 million households. The lowest annual income is of $75,000-$99,999 with 13 million households.

At last with the year 2015. The biggest amount of annual income is of $100,000 or more with 33 million households. The lowest annual income is of $75,000-$99,999 with 15 million households.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a basic overview and identifies some key features, such as the highest and lowest income categories. However, the analysis is quite superficial. The student lists data points for each year without making meaningful comparisons between the years or identifying broader trends, such as the shift in the most common income bracket. The statement that 'the year 2015 had the most amount of income' is inaccurate and confusing, as the chart shows the number of households, not total income. To reach a higher band, you must synthesize the data rather than simply listing figures for each year.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very mechanical and repetitive, such as 'To begin with', 'Secondly', and 'At last'. The progression of ideas is limited because the paragraphs function as isolated lists rather than a cohesive report. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. Improving the flow by using a wider variety of linking words and focusing on comparing data points would significantly improve the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There is frequent repetition of basic terms like 'amount', 'income', and 'households'. Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'most amount of income' when referring to the number of households. There is no attempt to use less common vocabulary or synonyms to describe trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'surpassed'). To improve, focus on using more varied terminology to describe statistical changes and avoid repeating the same nouns and verbs throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response uses a mix of simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the households has increased their in come' (subject-verb agreement and spelling) and 'depicts the information about the number of households... with their annual income' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with sentence fragments like 'To begin with the year 2007.' The range of structures is limited, and the errors occasionally make the meaning slightly difficult to follow. Increasing the use of complex sentences and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement would help improve the score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.