Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-12
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 data about the number of households in the particular country United States of America by their yearly salary in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Overall, it is evident that annual salary of citizens increased over the period rather than some salary range persons.
In 2007, the number of us households income of less than 25000 us dollars was at 25 million, also those who had [redacted phone]9 dollars accounted about 27 million, while salary range [redacted phone]9 us dollars about 20 million and [redacted phone]9 us dollars income people about 20 million. The public whose annual income [redacted phone] or more was the highest in 2007, about 29 million.
In year 2011, US households income less than 25000 us dollars, [redacted phone]9 us dollars increased slightly about 28 and 30 millions respectively. The salary range people [redacted phone] or more number decreased minimally 29 to 27 million. Although, the us citizens annual income ([redacted phone]9) and ([redacted phone]9) remained stable at the previous figure. In year 2015, the pay scale [redacted phone] or more rose significantly about 33 million us households, while the income of less than 25000 and [redacted phone]9 us dollars decline slightly about 27 and 28 million respectively. Moreover, the figure of [redacted phone]9 and [redacted phone]9 reached at 15 and 21 million number of households.
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 all parts of the task by selecting and reporting the main features of the chart, including key income brackets across the specified years (2007, 2011, and 2015). Comparisons are made between categories, such as noting that the highest income bracket had the largest number of households in 2007, while other brackets shifted over time. However, the overview is somewhat confusingly worded, stating that the 'annual salary of citizens increased over the period rather than some salary range persons.' Despite this slight weakness in formulating a clear overarching trend, the key data points are adequately reported, satisfying the core requirements of Task Achievement at a Band 6.0 level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical chronological progression, moving from an introduction to 2007 data, and subsequently to 2011 and 2015. Paragraphing is utilised to separate the introduction, the overview, the 2007 data, and the later years. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty. For instance, the use of transition words like 'Although' is grammatically disjointed ('Although, the us citizens annual income... remained stable'), and referencing can be repetitive. Overall organisation is clear enough to follow, matching the criteria for a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully referring to numbers of households, income ranges, and directional trends like 'increased slightly' and 'rose significantly'. However, there are noticeable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. Phrases like 'yearly salary' or 'pay scale' are used when referring to household income brackets, and terms like 'decline' are grammatically incorrect in context ('income... decline slightly'). Spelling of common items is generally acceptable, but the vocabulary remains somewhat repetitive, placing the response firmly at Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but attempts at complex structures frequently contain errors. For example, sentences such as 'In 2007, the number of us households income of less than 25000 us dollars was at 25 million...' lack appropriate prepositional and clausal links. There are frequent missing articles ('in year 2011') and punctuation errors, along with subject-verb agreement issues ('the number... decreased... to 27 million. Although, the us citizens annual income... remained'). While these errors do not completely obscure the meaning, they are frequent enough to impede smooth reading, aligning with Band 5.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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