Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-26

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 bar chat illustrated the number of households in the US by their annual income from less than 25000$ to [redacted phone]$ in year 2007,2011 and 2015.

commencing of the states show that from 2007 the households drastically increased by 2015. Income level of 75000$ are slightly increased or remain constant comparing other income levels, like [redacted phone]$ annual income level leads towards from 28 million to 33 million. Moreover, less than 25000$ are also increased to around 27.5 million households but on the other hand middle class with around 50000$ face decline in their household in 2015 from 2007.

Moreover 2011 the middle period of time shows the bloom or lower-class household by 27.5 million of less than 25000$ and around 30 million of 25000

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have attempted to identify some trends, the analysis is incomplete and lacks a clear overview of the main features. The data points are presented in a fragmented manner, and the summary of the information is insufficient. To improve, ensure you cover all categories provided in the chart and provide a clear, concise overview of the most significant trends. The current response is too brief to fully address the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a logical structure. While there are paragraph breaks, the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes confusing, such as the abrupt transition in the second paragraph. The referencing is unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the years. To improve, use clear linking words (e.g., 'in contrast', 'furthermore', 'consequently') to connect your sentences and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as grouping data by trends or time periods.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. There are errors in word choice and formatting, such as 'bar chat' instead of 'bar chart' and the incorrect placement of dollar signs (e.g., '25000$'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe trends accurately; for instance, using 'bloom' to describe a statistical increase is not appropriate in this context. To improve, focus on learning specific collocations for describing data, such as 'a significant rise', 'a steady decline', or 'remained stable'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('the households drastically increased') and sentence structure. The use of punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with commas and the formatting of numbers. The response relies on simple sentence structures, and there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction and proofread for common errors such as missing articles and incorrect verb tenses. Ensure that your sentences are complete and clearly punctuated.

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

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