Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

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 the exception of a period in which another income bracket of households outweighed the other categories. Most income classes experienced fluctuations, while middle income remained stable 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 households stabilized with about 21 million in each period. The income bracket ($75000-$99999) had the lowest 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 6.0

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 fluctuations in the highest income bracket and the stability of the middle-income group. However, the overview is slightly confusing; stating that the highest income was 'on top in two periods' while also mentioning another bracket 'outweighed' it is contradictory and lacks clarity. To improve, ensure your summary highlights the most significant trends without ambiguity. The data is generally accurate, though the comparison between the lowest and highest income groups could be more analytical to better highlight the disparities over the three years.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on specific income categories. There is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'while,' 'as compared to,' and 'in addition,' to link sentences. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow would benefit from more varied linking words to avoid a repetitive structure when describing the data for each year.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations,' 'brackets,' 'witnessed,' and 'stabilized.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'the figure of households stabilized' and 'the highest income category witnessed the top rank.' These choices are understandable but lack the precision expected at higher bands. To reach a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repeating the same sentence structures when reporting figures. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly without significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some error-free sentences, there are also recurring grammatical issues. For example, 'the highest income ($100000 or more), it faced the highest number' is a redundant structure. Additionally, phrases like 'the figure of households stabilized with about 21 million in each period' are slightly awkward. Punctuation is generally correct, but the control over complex structures is inconsistent. Focusing on reducing redundant subjects and improving the flow of complex sentences will help improve your accuracy and range.

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

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