Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-07
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 5.0)
The bar chart compares the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007,2011 and 2015.
Overall, it is clear that $100,000 or more households are at the top of the 2015 and less than $25,000 houses are at the bottom in the year 2011.
In 2007, less than $ 25,000 households are at the number of 25. Where else $100,000 households are at around 29 number which is 4 time increase then $ 25,000 households.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 79 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The summary lacks a comprehensive overview of the data, and the comparison of figures is underdeveloped and mathematically inaccurate (e.g., the claim of a '4 time increase'). The response does not select and report the main features effectively, failing to cover the trends across the three years provided. To improve, you must ensure you describe all categories and years, provide a clear overview of the main trends, and meet the minimum length requirement to allow for sufficient data analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is very brief, making it difficult to assess the use of cohesive devices or paragraphing. While there is a basic attempt at an introduction and an overview, the lack of development means there is no logical progression of ideas. The sentences are disjointed, and there is a lack of linking words to connect the data points. To improve, you should structure your response into clear paragraphs: an introduction, an overview of the main trends, and two body paragraphs detailing specific data comparisons. Use transition signals like 'in contrast', 'furthermore', or 'meanwhile' to improve flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'at the number of 25' are unnatural and imprecise. There is a lack of variety in reporting verbs or comparative language, which is essential for describing charts. The use of 'houses' instead of 'households' is a minor inaccuracy. To improve, you should incorporate a wider range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'accounted for', or 'a significant proportion'. Avoid using informal phrasing and focus on using precise terminology to describe numerical trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For instance, 'Where else $100,000 households are at around 29 number' is grammatically incorrect and confusing. The sentence structure is simplistic, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around currency symbols and commas. To improve, focus on using a mix of simple and complex sentences. Ensure subject-verb agreement and correct word order. Practice using relative clauses and passive voice, which are common in academic writing for describing data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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