Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The bar chart compares the number of households in the United States across five different annual income categories in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, the two lowest income groups and the highest income group contained the greatest numbers of households. While the number of households earning $100,000 or more increased considerably by 2015, the figures for most other income groups changed relatively little over the period.

In 2007, approximately 25 million households earned less than $25,000 per year, while around 27 million had an annual income between $25,000 and $49,999. The figures for the $50,000–$74,999 and $75,000–$99,999 categories were lower, at roughly 21 million and 14 million respectively. Meanwhile, about 29 million households earned at least $100,000.

By 2011, the number of households in the two lowest income categories had risen to around 29–30 million. In contrast, the figures for those earning between $50,000 and $99,999 remained largely stable. The number of households in the highest income category fell slightly to approximately 28 million.

In 2015, however, households earning $100,000 or more increased significantly to about 33 million, making this the largest category. The number of households earning under $25,000 and between $25,000 and $49,999 remained at around 28 million each, whereas the two middle-income groups showed little change.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and selected key data points to support your descriptions. The comparison between the years is well-handled, particularly the identification of the growth in the highest income bracket. You have successfully highlighted the main features, such as the stability of middle-income groups versus the fluctuations in the highest and lowest categories. The information is accurate and well-integrated, demonstrating a clear understanding of the data provided in the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction and overview to specific data analysis for each year. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'In contrast', and 'however' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs, ensuring a smooth flow of information. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, making the report easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data with precision. Phrases like 'remained largely stable', 'increased considerably', and 'fluctuations' demonstrate a good command of academic language. The vocabulary is appropriate for the task and allows for clear communication of the trends. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations related to statistical trends could further enhance the lexical variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('While the number of households... increased') and comparative structures. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that impede communication. The sentence construction is varied and contributes to the overall readability of the report.

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