Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-25

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 5.0)

The bar chart illustrates the number of families(in millions) in the US, based on there annual income in three different years 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, in 2007 and 2015 there are more households who had income of $100,000 or more. Where in three years, the people who have income of $75,000-$99,999 and $50,000-$74,999 are having little fluctuations and looks similar.

In 2007 there are 30 million households who had income of $100,000 or more. Where in 2011, again 30 million households had $25,000-$49,999 income, but again there are families having income of $100,000 or more are approximately 33 million.

However, in three different years, both households are having irregular but looks nearly income of $75,000-$99,999 and $50,000-$74,999,which are around 15 million and 21 million respectively. Overall, households income less than $25,000 and $25,000 - $49,999 are having same kind of similarities like increase, peak, and decrease. Overall, there are fluctuations in every category.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to address the task by summarizing the main features of the chart, mentioning the top income brackets and general trends. However, the response suffers from significant inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, the student states that in 2007 there were 30 million households earning $100,000 or more, whereas the chart shows approximately 29.5 million. Furthermore, several sentences are confusing, repetitive, and contain inaccurate data readings (such as confusing the income brackets and figures for 2011). The overview attempts to capture general patterns, but the lack of precise data reporting and the muddled descriptions of the middle-income brackets pull the score down into the Band 5 range, as ideas are underdeveloped and data is partially misreported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is divided into paragraphs, which provides a basic structural framework. However, the overall progression is heavily hindered by confusing phrasing, repetitive transitions ('Where in three years', 'Where in 2007', 'However, in three different years'), and poor referencing. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of comparisons. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within sentences and paragraphs frequently breaks down due to clunky sentence structures and abrupt shifts in topic. This corresponds to the Band 5 descriptor, where some organization is present but overall progression is unclear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive. Words such as 'families', 'income', 'fluctuations', 'number', and 'households' are recycled constantly without sufficient variation. There are also lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'based on there annual income' (spelling error with 'their') and 'looks nearly income'. The student attempts some less common vocabulary like 'fluctuations' and 'respectively', but these attempts are marred by inaccurate colligations and limited range. Vocabulary is minimally adequate for the task, fitting the Band 5 level where noticeable errors and limited flexibility cause difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The student demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences rely on simple patterns or faulty attempts at complex sentences, frequently resulting in ungrammatical constructions. Examples include 'Where in three years, the people who have income of $75,000-$99,999 and $50,000-$74,999 are having little fluctuations and looks similar' and 'households income less than $25,000 and $25,000 - $49,999 are having same kind of similarities like increase, peak, and decrease.' There are frequent errors in verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions. These errors occur throughout the text and frequently impede communication, aligning with the Band 4 descriptor.

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

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