Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The bar chart compares the number of households, measured in millions, across five annual income brackets in 2007, 2011 and 2015
Overall household earning [redacted phone] USD or more represent the largest group in 2015, whereas those earning 75,000- 99,999 USD were consistently the least numerous. Apart from the highest-income category the figure changes relatively little over period.
In 2007 roughly 29 millions households earn $[redacted phone] or more in contrast to those who earns $75000-$99999 has the about 14% of households followed by the other annual income structure. Over 25 million household earns less than $25000 per year. The corresponding figures for the $50,000–$74,999 and $75,000–$99,999 groups were about 21 million and 14 million, respectively.
By 2011 the number of individuals who earns less than $25000 has increased to 28% while a fall can be noticed in the groups of wealthy people. Meanwhile annual earnings of middle range almost unchanged.
Interestingly Only in low range of income and the wealthy individuals annual income per year shows verity in number in contrast to middle range income category remains stable throughout the timeframe.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart, such as the growth in the highest income bracket and the relative stability of the middle brackets. However, the analysis is inconsistent. For instance, the data provided for 2007 is confusing, mixing raw numbers with percentages (e.g., '14% of households'), which is not supported by the chart. Furthermore, the description of 2011 data is vague, using percentages that do not clearly align with the provided figures. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately extracted and consistently presented in the same units (millions) to allow for clearer comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by unclear referencing and awkward transitions. Phrases like 'followed by the other annual income structure' are vague and do not effectively link the data points. Additionally, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as the transition 'Interestingly Only in low range...'. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that flows logically from the previous one.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher score. There are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'annual income per year shows verity' (likely meant 'variety' or 'variation') and 'middle range almost unchanged'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on repetitive structures. To improve, incorporate more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained constant', or 'experienced a marginal increase', and ensure that word choices are contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, for example, 'those who earns' and 'household earns'. There are also issues with article usage and sentence structure, such as 'the figure changes relatively little over period' (missing 'the'). While there is an attempt to use complex sentences, they are often marred by these persistent errors. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, will significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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