Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-04

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 bar chart illustrates millions of households in the US by their yearly income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

It can be observed that, in 2007, 25 million people had less than $25,000 while 27 million had salary between $25,000 and $49,000 annually. While 30 million individuals earned $100,000 more, 15 million workers received salary from $75000 to $99,000 per year. People who got salary between $50000 $74999 accounted for 20 million. After four year, individuals whom salary below than $49,999 stood at 30 million. People who earned more than $1,00,000 were accounted for 27 million.

It can be seen that, in 2015, employees who got less than $49,999 were around 29 million. However, 32 million people got more than $1,00,000 salary per year. 20 million people got salary range between $50,000 and $74,999.

Overall, although in the starting salary per year was lower, it increased at the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, but the reporting is inconsistent and lacks a clear overview. While you identify some data points for 2007, 2011, and 2015, the selection of data is somewhat arbitrary, and you fail to make meaningful comparisons between the years. The overview provided at the end is too vague and does not clearly summarize the significant trends, such as the growth in the highest income bracket. To improve, ensure you group data logically rather than listing figures chronologically, and provide a clear, analytical summary of the overall trends in the introduction or conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and repetitive, with phrases like 'It can be seen that' used multiple times. The transition between the data points is abrupt, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of trends. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect sentences and paragraphs, and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, such as grouping by income category or by year-on-year changes.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You frequently use the word 'salary' to refer to household income, which is inaccurate in this context. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'individuals whom salary below', which is grammatically incorrect and lexically imprecise. To reach a higher band, focus on using more varied terminology related to data reporting, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'peaked', and ensure that your terminology accurately reflects the data provided in the prompt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'individuals whom salary below than $49,999' and 'After four year'. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. The misuse of 'whom' instead of 'whose' and the inconsistent use of articles and prepositions are frequent. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative pronouns. Incorporating more complex sentence structures, such as using subordinate clauses, would also help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.