Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The bar chart illustrates the variations in the number of households in the US by their different yearly income brackets in 2007, 2011, and 2015.

Overall, the number of households for the highest income was on top in two periods, with an exception in which another income bracket of households outweighed the other categories. All income classes experienced the fluctuations in three periods.

For the highest income ($[redacted phone] or more), it faced the highest number, with around 30 million in 2007, to a slight decline in 2011 with approximately 27 million households. While in 2015, the highest income category witnessed the top rank accounting for 33 million. The lowest-income households (less than $25000) had 25 million as compared to 29 million in 2011 and 28 million in 2015.

The income range of $25000-$49999 had 26 million in 2007 and jumped to about 30 million in 2011 but fell to approximately 28 million in 2015. The middle income ($50000-$74999) class experienced about 21 million in 2007, while in 2011 and 2015 the figure of household stabilized with about 21 million in each period. The income bracket ($75000-$99999) had the least share in all three years, with 14 million in 2007 to around 13 million in 2011, while in 2015 it reached the figure of 15 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task and provides a clear overview of the main trends. You successfully identified the key features, such as the highest income bracket's dominance and the fluctuations across categories. However, the overview is slightly vague; phrases like 'outweighed the other categories' could be more precise. Additionally, while you report the data accurately, the comparison between categories could be more analytical. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'main features' are highlighted more distinctly in the introduction or overview, and try to group the data points more logically to facilitate easier comparison between the years.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on specific income brackets. The progression of ideas is clear, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'while', 'as compared to', and 'in contrast'. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For instance, the second paragraph's overview is a bit disjointed. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the overall cohesion. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'brackets', 'witnessed', and 'stabilized'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is good. However, some word choices are slightly repetitive or imprecise, such as 'faced the highest number' or 'reached the figure of'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to data reporting, such as 'peaked at', 'remained constant', or 'experienced a marginal decline'. The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'the figure of household stabilized' (should be 'the number of households stabilized') and 'with an exception in which' (which is slightly awkward). Most sentences are clear, and errors do not impede communication. To move up, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, with greater precision. Ensure that subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report.

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.