Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-06

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 compares the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, it is observed the highest number of households in Us was recorded in $[redacted phone] or more, at 33 million households, in 2015, While the lowest was recorded in $75000-$99999, at 14 million households in 2011.

In 2007, approximately 29 million households earned less than $25000, Which fell 27 million households and then rose steadily in 2015 up to 34 million households, Similarly the group of $[redacted phone] or more had 29 million household which fell up to 27 million households and then rose steadily up to 33 million household in 2015, Whereas the group $50000-$74999 remains constant.

The group of $25000-$49999 was the second highest earning group by 26 million household, which then increased in 2011 by 29 million household and fell in 2015 by 28 million household, however it remains the second highest earning group in 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the chart and provides relevant comparisons. You successfully identified the highest and lowest points and tracked trends over the three years. However, the overview is slightly cluttered with specific data points, which is better suited for the body paragraphs. To improve, ensure the overview highlights the most significant trends (e.g., the general growth in the highest income bracket) rather than listing specific figures. Additionally, some data reporting is slightly inaccurate or confusing, such as the claim that the $50,000-$74,999 group remained constant, which requires more precise interpretation of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'In 2007', and 'Whereas' to link information. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by repetitive sentence structures. The use of punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the misuse of capital letters mid-sentence (e.g., 'Which', 'Similarly'). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring correct sentence boundary punctuation would enhance the clarity and flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'recorded', 'steadily', and 'remains constant'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'fell up to' or 'increased in 2011 by 29 million', which do not accurately describe the data trends. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more varied verbs to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and ensure you use prepositions correctly when discussing numerical changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede readability. For example, there are issues with subject-verb agreement ('group... remains constant'), incorrect capitalization, and run-on sentences. The use of commas is often erratic, and some sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for capitalization and punctuation would significantly improve your score.

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

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