Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-05
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 graph illustrates the number of households in the United States, measured annual income, across five distinct countries. At a glance, the figure is shown similar annual incomes in the given years.
In 2007, the number of households earning $100,000 or more was under 30 million, in 2011 the figure declines to 27million, at the end of the given year the number, peaking at its 33 million. This category stood prominently across all the years. Similarly, less than $25,000 households earned 25 million in the first year, it rose to 27 million in 2011, before fell to 27 million in the last year.
By contrast, if we talk about middle annual income categories $25,000-$74,000, in this the number of earnings fluctuated over the timeline, in 2015 the number remained almost unchanged. It is interesting to note, that the number of households who earned $75,000-$99,999 was the least category, which starts from 14 million, in 2011 it fell marginally to 13 million and in the last year the number was increased to 15%.
Overall, it is evident that the largest annual category rose considerably over the time, while least annual income individuals remained the lowest category.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task requirements by summarizing the main features of the chart. You have identified key trends, such as the growth in the highest income bracket and the fluctuations in others. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For example, you state the $75,000-$99,999 category increased to '15%', but the chart displays absolute numbers in millions, not percentages. Additionally, the introduction contains a factual error by mentioning 'five distinct countries' when the chart clearly refers to US households. To improve, ensure you carefully interpret the units of measurement and the scope of the data provided in the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. You use some cohesive devices like 'In 2007', 'Similarly', and 'By contrast' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'at the end of the given year the number, peaking at its 33 million'. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, and some transitions feel mechanical. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that pronouns or references clearly point to the intended data would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'prominently', and 'marginally'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'the figure is shown similar annual incomes' and 'the number of earnings fluctuated'. The misuse of '15%' instead of '15 million' also indicates a lack of precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensure that your word choices accurately reflect the data presented in the charts.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with verb tense consistency ('the figure declines', 'before fell') and sentence construction ('the number of households... was the least category'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma splices. To improve, focus on maintaining consistent verb tenses when describing past data and practice combining clauses more accurately to avoid run-on sentences or fragments. Proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement will also help reduce error frequency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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