Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-27
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 comparison between yearly income and number of household in US between 2007,2011 and 2015.
Overall, it is immediately clear that families with income hundred thousand dollars or more were the lowest in each year. Meanwhile households with annual income between fifty to roughly seventy five remain the same through out the period.
In 2007, the ratio of household having annual income above $100,000 was the highest up to 29%. After a slight dip of 27% in 2011. This number surged to 34%. In contrast people with income between $75,000 and $99,999 achieved the lowest number of 14.5% observed a slight drop in 2011 and in 2015 only reached 15%. However close to it was salary bracket $55,000-$74,000 that remained 21% through out the period.
The citizens that fell between the range of $25,000-$49,999 in 2011 were noted 28% while this number peaked at 30% in 2011 and plummeted to 29% in 2015. Furthermore, those having salary less than $25,000 were 25% in 2007 after a slight increase in 2011 this number dropped to 27%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The student attempts to address the prompt by summarising the main features of the bar chart regarding US household income in 2007, 2011, and 2015. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies regarding the data. For instance, the student states that households earning $100,000 or more were 'the lowest in each year,' whereas this group actually started and ended as one of the highest categories (29.5 million and 33.5 million). Furthermore, the student repeatedly uses percentages ('29%', '34%', '14.5%') even though the chart measures numbers of households in millions, misinterpreting the units of measurement entirely. While an overview is attempted, the confusion over the data and units prevents a fully successful task completion.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is divided into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs, showing a basic attempt at paragraphing. However, the logical progression is flawed due to confusing data reporting and contradictory statements. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate ('Meanwhile households... remain the same through out the period' and 'However close to it was salary bracket'). Referencing is also occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the intended comparisons. Paragraphing is present, but internal cohesion requires better transitional phrases and accurate referencing to achieve a higher band.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'plummeted,' 'surged,' and 'bracket,' but these are often used inaccurately or paired with incorrect data. The fundamental misunderstanding of the chart's units (confusing millions of households with percentages) severely limits lexical precision. There are also noticeable errors in word choice and preposition use, such as 'comparison between yearly income and number of household' (missing articles) and 'salary bracket $55,000-$74,000' (the actual bracket on the chart is $50,000–$74,999). Vocabulary is minimally adequate for conveying basic ideas, but errors impede clear communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is weak. There are frequent errors in sentence structure, punctuation, and articles, such as 'number of household in US' (missing articles and pluralisation) and 'After a slight dip of 27% in 2011. This number surged to 34%' (fragment sentence). Punctuation errors are also present, such as missing spaces after commas in '2007,2011 and 2015.' While the reader can occasionally discern the intended meaning, the frequency of grammatical errors causes difficulty and distraction.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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