Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-31

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 6.0)

The bar chart illustrates the number of families by annual income in the US in 2007, 2011 and 2015.Figures are presented in millions.

Overall, it is evident that the households who earned $100,000 remained the largest in 2007 and 2015 whereas families who generated an annual income of $25,000-$49,000 recorded the least across the period.

Regarding families income in 2007 and 2011, households who earned 7$5,000-$99,999 reported a below below 15 million, followed by those who generated $50,000-$74,999 around 21 million and those who earned less than $25,000 at 25 million. Meanwhile, families who earned $25 0000- $49,999 and $100,000 or more recorded roughly 26 million and 29 million respectively. however, in 2011 households that generated $75,000-$99,999 and $100,000 or more annually furthered decline while those who generated 50,000-$74,999 annually remained the same. Conversely, other household incomes slightly increased in 2011.

Turning to 2015, families with annual income of less than $25,000 and $25 0000- $49,999 dipped to a value around 26.5 million and 27 million respectively whereas $100,000 or more and$75,000-$99,999 slightly increased to an approximate value of 33 million and 15 million. Similarly, the value of those who earned 50,000-$74,999 remained identical throughout the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task and provides a clear overview of the main trends. You successfully identified the largest and smallest categories and made relevant comparisons across the years. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting; for instance, you mention that the $50,000-$74,999 category remained identical throughout the period, but the chart shows fluctuations. Additionally, some figures are slightly misread or inconsistently presented. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are transcribed with absolute precision and that comparisons are supported by accurate evidence from the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'meanwhile', and 'conversely' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions between sentences. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within the second body paragraph could be improved by grouping the data more logically rather than listing figures in a way that feels slightly repetitive. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear enough to follow without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'generated', and 'remained identical'. There are some minor errors in word choice and formatting, such as the inconsistent typing of currency figures (e.g., '$25 0000- $49,999'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the occasional inaccuracies in numerical representation and minor spelling slips (e.g., 'furthered decline') slightly limit the precision of your writing. To improve, focus on consistent formatting of numbers and currency to ensure a more professional and polished presentation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The bar chart illustrates...' and '...whereas families who generated...'. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles (e.g., 'the households'), punctuation issues (e.g., '7$5,000'), and awkward phrasing like 'furthered decline'. While these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that complex sentences are constructed with greater grammatical precision.

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

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