Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-09
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 7.0)
The rendered bar graph depicts the information about the numbers of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015. The data has been calibrated into millions.
Overall, while the numbers of middle-class and upper-middle-class individuals remained almost steady throughout the given years, the numbers of lower-class, lower-middle-class, and upper-class individuals fluctuated in various ways.
It can be observed that the number of people earning between 50 and 75 thousand dollars stayed roughly the same across all three years, with their figures slightly exceeding 20 million. Similarly, the number of individuals in the upper-middle class, earning between 75 and 100 thousand dollars, did not change significantly over time, although their figures were slightly less stable than those of the middle class.
On the other hand, the number of lower-class individuals rose from just over 25 million to just under 30 million between 2007 and 2011, then slightly decreased to around 27 million in 2015. A similar pattern was observed for the lower-middle class, with an increase between 2007 and 2011 followed by a decrease to 2015, fluctuating near 27 million households. However, the number of individuals with incomes exceeding 100 thousand dollars decreased from 2007 to 2011 but then increased to over 30 million after 2011.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have successfully identified the main features of the chart and provided a clear overview. You covered all income categories and included relevant comparisons across the three years. The data is accurately reported, and you have effectively highlighted the trends, such as the stability of the middle-income groups versus the fluctuations in the lower and upper-income brackets. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently distinguish between 'households' and 'individuals', as the prompt specifically refers to households. Using 'individuals' throughout the text is a minor inaccuracy in data interpretation, but the overall task is addressed well.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'On the other hand', and 'however' to link ideas and contrast trends. The progression of information is smooth, and each paragraph has a clear central topic. The use of referencing is generally effective, though ensure that the transition between the description of the lower-class and the lower-middle-class is slightly more distinct to avoid any potential confusion regarding the data points.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'remained almost steady', 'fluctuated in various ways', and 'did not change significantly' are appropriate for a data description task. You avoid repetition and use a variety of verbs to describe trends. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations related to data analysis, such as 'marginal fluctuations' or 'a consistent upward trajectory', to elevate the academic tone of your writing further.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to support the flow of information. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with more complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses (e.g., 'Following a period of growth, the figures for the lower-class declined...') to increase the variety and sophistication of your grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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