Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The given bar graph gives us information about the number of US households by annual income in the years 2007,2011,2015.The data of number of households are in millions.
A cursory glance at the give bar graph is redundant to illustrate that the annual income of US households who had $100,000 or more at its peak in the year 2015.
In the year 2007, the annual income 100,000 or more was 29 million whereas it was slight decline in the year 2011. The annual income of household less than $25,000 was 25 million in the year 2007.Whereas,it was gradually incline in the year 2011 and remained constant till the year 2015.
Further enhancing the graph, it can be clearly seen that the US household whose annual income was $25,000-$49,999 was 27 millions in the year 2007 but it was slight climb in the year 2011. However, it was steady decline in the 2015. The households whose income was $50,000-$74,999 and $75,000-$99,999 were remain constant throughout the period.
After analysing the bar graph, it can be noticed that the $10,000 or more was at its peak whereas the $75,000-$99,999 was at its lowest.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the peak category, the description of trends is inconsistent and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, stating that the $100,000+ category was at its peak in 2015 is correct, but the description of the $25,000-$49,999 category as a 'slight climb' in 2011 followed by a 'steady decline' in 2015 lacks precision regarding the actual data points. Furthermore, the concluding sentence is confusing, as it mentions '$10,000 or more' which does not appear as a distinct category in the chart. To improve, ensure you accurately report the figures and provide clearer comparisons between the years.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. Phrases like 'Further enhancing the graph' are unnatural and do not effectively link ideas. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'in the year'. While there is a basic structure, the progression of ideas is not always smooth, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of trends across the three years.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'slight decline', 'gradually incline', and 'steady decline'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'cursory glance... is redundant to illustrate' and 'it was slight climb'. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the report. To improve, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a marginal increase'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but grammatical errors are frequent. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the data of number of households are', 'were remain constant') and missing articles or prepositions. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing after commas. While the meaning is generally conveyed, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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