Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The bar chart illustrates the number of US households measured in millions by various annual income brackets in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, the group having annual income more than $100,000 built the greatest number of households in 2015 and the lowest figure was recorded by the group having annual income of $75000 to $99,999. The remaining existing three groups showed substantial changes over time.

In 2007, the group having annual income less than $25,000 built 25 million households which was followed by a record highest 28 million in 2011 and then a slight decrease in 2015 accounting for 26 million. In contrast, the group of annual income of $25,000 to $49,999 started with 26 million households and followed the trend of record highest 30 million households in 2011, exactly like the previous group and then a slight decrease to 27 million in 2015.

The group consisting of annual income of $50,000 to $74,999 showed a consistent trend in its number of households, 21 million in 2007, and a slight increase of 22 million in both 2011 and 2015. The next two groups consisting of annual income of $75,000 to $99,999 and more than $100,000 showed almost similar trend in its journey over the three timeframes. In 2007, 14 and 29 million households were built by these two groups which followed a slight fall to 13 and 28 million households in 2011 and finally recovered the gap created in 2015. A level best of 15 million households and the highest figure among all the groups over the timespan of 34 million households were built in 2015 by the group having annual income of more than %100,000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the chart and provided a clear overview. You covered all income brackets and time periods, making relevant comparisons, such as noting the peak in 2011 for the lower-income groups. However, there is a recurring issue with your interpretation of the data: you frequently use the verb 'built' to describe the number of households (e.g., 'built 25 million households'). Households are not 'built' by income groups; they exist as statistical categories. This misinterpretation of the data labels slightly impacts the accuracy of your reporting. Otherwise, the data is well-selected and the trends are clearly described.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group the income brackets effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'followed by', and 'finally' to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different income categories. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing of the groups could be more precise to avoid repetition. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'substantial changes', 'slight decrease', and 'consistent trend'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, most notably the repeated use of 'built' to refer to the number of households, which is contextually incorrect. Additionally, there is a minor typo with the percentage sign ('%100,000'). To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise terminology for statistical data, such as 'accounted for' or 'represented', rather than verbs implying construction.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The group consisting of annual income of $50,000 to $74,999 showed a consistent trend...'. Most of your sentences are clear and grammatically sound. There are occasional errors, such as 'the group having annual income more than $100,000 built the greatest number of households', where 'with' would be more natural than 'having'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. The variety of structures is adequate for the task.

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