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 graph illustrates the number of households in the US by their yearly earning in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Overall, the number of households earning $100,000 or more increased slightly over the years, while the figure for earning $50,000 to $74,999 remained same over the period. The $75,000 to $99,999 category had the fewest households throughout the period.
In 2007, approximately 25million households earned less than $25,000 but later the number of households increased in the year 2011 but slightly dipped in 2025 which was about 28millions. Same ratio goes to the number of households earning $25,000 to $49,999. The number of households earning $75,000 to $99,999 and $100,000 or more had the number of households about 21million and 14million respectively, which remained unchanged throughout the period of 2007 to 2015.
In conclusion, the number of peoples earning $50,000 to $74,999 remained same over the years. In contrast, the number of households earning $100,000 or more remained highest in the both year 2007 and 2015.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a general overview and attempts to report on the main features. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data interpretation. For instance, you mention 2025 as a year, which is outside the scope of the provided data, and your description of the trends for the $75,000–$99,999 and $100,000+ categories contradicts the visual evidence in the chart. While you attempt to select key features, the lack of precision in reporting the figures and the misinterpretation of the trends mean that the task is only partially addressed. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference your descriptions with the actual data points provided in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is a clear overall progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as 'Same ratio goes to', which is not a standard way to link information. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the different income brackets. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words and ensuring clear referencing would help elevate your score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'remained same' and 'number of households'. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'number of peoples' instead of 'number of people'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'a significant proportion'. Additionally, ensure you use the correct terminology when referring to demographic groups.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'remained same' (missing 'the'), 'in the both year', and '28millions' (incorrect pluralization). While the meaning is generally understandable, these recurring errors in articles, pluralization, and preposition usage suggest a lack of control over complex structures. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and plural forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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