Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The chart illustrates the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Overall, it is clear that number of US households earning $75,000-$99,999 had the lowest figure in all three years. While those earning $100,000 or more generally had the highest figure except in 2011.
In 2007, households yearly income $100,000 or more experienced the highest figure nearly under 30 million, followed by households earning $25,000-$49,999 had the second highest figure at nearly 27 million. While, the number of households at $75,000-$99,999 had the lowest figure with under 15 million yearly income. Additionally, number of households less than $25,000 annual income at 25 million.
By 2011, the number of households $25,000-$49,999 had the rose steadily at nearly 30 millions, followed by less than $25,000 had increased gradually at approximately 28 millions. While, the number of families yearly income $100,000 or more fell slightly at nearly 27 million. Whereas, $50,000-$74,999 and $75,000-$99,999 had remained the stable over the 4 years.
By 2015, $100,000 had the highest figure of income at nearly 33 million, whereas $50,000-$74,999 remained same contrast, and $75,000-$99,999 rose slightly at nearly 15 million, However, excepted those number of families yearly income fell slightly in 2015.
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, including the overall trends and specific data points for the three years. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the statement that the $100,000+ category had the highest figure except in 2011 is accurate, but the description of the 2011 data contains errors, such as claiming the $50,000-$74,999 and $75,000-$99,999 categories remained stable, which is not clearly supported by the data. The conclusion is also confusing and lacks clarity regarding the final trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points mentioned are accurately reflected and that the summary provides a more precise overview of the changes over time.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In 2007', 'By 2011', and 'Whereas', which help guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as starting sentences with 'While' or 'Whereas' in a way that creates sentence fragments. Additionally, the flow between ideas within paragraphs is occasionally disrupted by grammatical errors, making the progression of information feel slightly disjointed. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words will help create a smoother, more professional flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends using terms like 'rose steadily', 'increased gradually', and 'fell slightly'. However, there are several instances of inaccurate word choice and collocation, such as 'had the rose steadily' (should be 'rose steadily') and 'remained same contrast'. The repetition of 'figure' and 'number of households' limits the range of expression. To improve, the writer should focus on using more precise reporting verbs and nouns, and ensure that collocations are used correctly to convey information more naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'had the rose steadily'), missing articles, and sentence fragments (e.g., 'However, excepted those number of families yearly income fell slightly in 2015'). There are also issues with pluralization, such as '30 millions' instead of '30 million'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and sentence completion is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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