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 largest 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 provides a clear overview and covers all income categories across the three years. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the fluctuations in the highest income bracket and the relative stability of the middle-income group. However, the overview is slightly confusing; stating that the highest income was 'on top in two periods' is inaccurate based on the data provided, as the lowest income bracket also held significant shares. To reach a higher band, ensure your summary of trends is factually precise and avoids vague phrasing like 'outweighed the other categories' without specifying which ones.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs grouped by income categories. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'while', 'as compared to', and 'in addition to', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different data points. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases further to ensure the flow between sentences feels more natural and less repetitive.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'brackets', and 'stabilized' appropriately. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'it faced the largest number' or 'reached the figure of'. Using more precise collocations would enhance the quality of your writing. For example, instead of saying a category 'faced' a number, you could say it 'accounted for' or 'represented' a specific portion of the total.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear, and errors in grammar or punctuation do not impede communication. There are some minor issues with sentence construction, such as 'the highest income category witnessed the top rank', which is slightly unnatural. Additionally, ensure consistent use of articles and prepositions. While you show good control, increasing the variety of complex structures would help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

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