Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-28

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 6.5)

The bar chart compares the number of households through their yearly income in US in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, the number of the households earning $100,000 or more increased over the period, whereas the figure for middle-income groups generally declined. In contrast, the number of households earning $50,000-$74,999 remained relatively stable during the period, despite some fluctuations.

An analysis of the chart reveals that the number of the households earning less than $25,000 increased slightly from 25 million in 2007 to around 29 million in 2011, before falling to nearly 27 million in 2015. Similarly, households earning $25,000-$49,999 category rose from approximately 27 million to 29 million between 2007 and 2011, but then declined considerably to around 25 million in 2015.

From the chart, it is evident that the number of households earning $50,000-$74,999 climbed from 21 million in 2007, to 22 million in 2011 and remained relatively stable in 2015. In contrast, the category of households earning $75,000-$99,999 decreased from approximately 14 million in 2007 to 13 million in 2011, and it reached 15 million in 2015. Furthermore, the largest earning category $100,000 or more recorded 29 million households, before dipping to approximately 26 million households, and in 2015, the figure reached nearly 33 million households.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main trends and providing relevant data points. You have successfully highlighted the overall increase in the highest income bracket and the fluctuations in others. The overview is clear and sets the stage for the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, when mentioning the 'middle-income groups' in the overview, it would be more accurate to specify which categories you are referring to, as the data shows varied trends for those groups. Overall, the information is well-selected and supports the summary effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group data by income categories. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You make good use of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'Furthermore' to link sentences and paragraphs. However, some transitions could be more varied to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information within each paragraph is focused on specific trends, which helps the reader navigate the data provided in the chart.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'remained relatively stable', 'fluctuations', and 'dipping' are used appropriately in the context of describing trends. There are occasional minor inaccuracies, such as 'number of the households' (the article 'the' is unnecessary here) and 'largest earning category' (which could be phrased more naturally as 'highest income bracket'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic collocations would elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'number of households through their yearly income' (should be 'by' or 'according to') and 'households earning $25,000-$49,999 category' (which is missing a preposition or needs rephrasing). Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as participial phrases or relative clauses, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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