Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-24

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 chart illustrate the information about the households in 2007, 2011 and 2015 in US through their annual income.

This chart shows the changes in households from 2007 to 2015. Tells the increasing rate of households in millions.

First of all, In 2007 the number of households less then $25,000 was 25 million. Then the households cost $49,999 was more then $25,000 million almost. The households of $50,000 to $74,999 was almost 15 million. the houses that are more than 100,000 was hold almost 30 million.

Secondly, In 2011 the number of households less then $25,000 dramatically rose near to 30 million. The households cost $49,999 was upto 30 million. The households of $50,000 to $74,999 was changed and decreased more. The houses that are more than 100,000 was also lowered a little.

Lastly, In 2015 the number of households of $25,000 frequently decreased. The households of price $49,999 also lowered a little bit of almost 1 million. The households of price $50,000 to $ 74,999 remained same. The households of almost $74,999 to $99,999 reached 15 million.The households of cost more then 100,000 reached almost 35 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the chart, but the analysis is inconsistent and lacks clarity. While you attempt to report data for 2007, 2011, and 2015, the descriptions are often confusing. For instance, stating 'households cost $49,999 was more then $25,000 million' is mathematically unclear and confusing to the reader. You have identified some trends, but the lack of accurate data reporting and the failure to provide a clear overview of the main trends across the period significantly limit the quality of the response. To improve, ensure you clearly state the units and focus on comparing the categories rather than just listing numbers.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, such as starting paragraphs with 'First of all' and 'Secondly', which are better suited for discursive essays than data reports. The progression of ideas is often disjointed, and the referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to follow the comparison between the years. Improving the use of linking words like 'whereas', 'in contrast', or 'meanwhile' would help create a better flow between sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You frequently use the word 'households' and 'cost' in ways that are not always accurate or natural. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'frequently decreased' (which is not a standard collocation for describing data trends) and 'remained same'. The vocabulary used is basic and does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise reporting verbs and adjectives, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'a significant increase', and ensure you use them in the correct context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the response that occasionally impede communication. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The given chart illustrate'), incorrect preposition usage, and confusion between 'then' and 'than'. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences are often marred by errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and incorrect capitalization. To reach a higher band, you need to focus on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and ensuring that your comparisons are grammatically sound.

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

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