Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-01
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 given illustrates the number of households in America by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Overall, there are four categories in which data is classified such as less than 25000 USD ,between 25000 and 49999 USD ,between 50000 to74,999USD ,75000 to 99999 USD and [redacted phone]USD. The following trends show that 75,000-99,999 USD and 50,000-74,999 USD was almost constant in all three years while. However the highest trend of all three years is that of 100,000 or more in 2015.
In 2007, 25 million households had less than 25k USD whereas 27 million, 20 million ,14 million and 30 million had 25k-49,999 USD ,50k-74,999USD ,74k-99,999USD and 100,000USD or more correspondingly.
However in 2011, 28 million households had less than 25k USD while 30 million, 20 million ,14 million and 27 million had 25k-49,999 USD ,50k-74,999USD ,74k-99,999USD and 100,000USD or more accordingly.
Nevertheless in 2015 last graph didn't change significantly but remained same with just increase in fraction of 100,000 or more USD.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the categories and mention some trends, the description of the data is repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical focus. For instance, you list the figures for each year in separate paragraphs rather than synthesizing the information to make meaningful comparisons. The final paragraph is vague, stating the graph 'didn't change significantly' without providing specific data to support this observation. To improve, focus on grouping data points that show similar trends and highlighting the most significant changes or contrasts across the three years.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'while' and 'accordingly'. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. The final paragraph is particularly weak in terms of cohesion, as it lacks a clear link to the previous data and uses vague phrasing ('last graph') that does not accurately refer to the data provided. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely heavily on repeating the income categories and the word 'million'. There are also minor errors in formatting, such as '74k-99,999USD', which is inconsistent with your other labels. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider range of synonyms for 'increase', 'decrease', and 'remain stable', and avoid repeating the exact labels from the prompt. Using more sophisticated collocations to describe trends would also demonstrate a stronger command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. For example, 'between 50000 to74,999USD' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'between 50,000 and 74,999 USD'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement, such as '75,000-99,999 USD and 50,000-74,999 USD was almost constant', where 'were' is required. Additionally, the use of commas and spaces is inconsistent throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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