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 bar graph illustrates, the yearly income of the number households in the US over the period 2007, 2011 and 2015

Overall, the majority of the family earn more than $100,000 or even more while the income range between $75,000 to $99,999 were at the least.

The income range ( less than $25,000) showed upward trend in 2007 it was approximately 25% which increased around 30% in 2011 and in 2015 it slightly dipped, the income range of $25,000-$49,999 also have similar trend, and the income range of households ($50,000-74,999) in the year 2007 was 20 which remained stable throughout the period.

The income range of $75,000 to $99,999, were at the least among all, less than 15% income of the family were $75,000 to $99,999 which declined a little bit and then it reached 15% in the year 2015.

While the income family which was $100,000 and even more was at the highest, in 2007 it was around 30% which have drecreased in 2011 and able reached 30 and more in 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides an overview and selects key features, but the reporting is inconsistent. While you identify the main trends, the data interpretation is sometimes inaccurate or vague (e.g., 'remained stable' for a category that fluctuated, or 'able reached 30 and more'). The overview is somewhat confusing as it claims the majority earn over $100,000, which is not supported by the data showing percentages around 30%. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe the data points and provide a clearer, more precise summary of the main trends without making unsupported generalizations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often mechanical. You use some cohesive devices, but they are sometimes used incorrectly or create awkward phrasing, such as 'While the income family which was...'. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is occasionally disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of data across the three years. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'income family' instead of 'households' and 'dipped' used in a context that doesn't clearly convey the data. Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'drecreased'. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise terminology related to data description (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'remained constant', 'accounted for') and ensure your spelling is accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'income range... were at the least'), missing articles, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'in 2007 it was 20 which remained stable'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structure and subject-verb agreement, and try to incorporate more complex structures only when you are confident in their accuracy.

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

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