Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-29

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 6.5)

The bar chart illustrates changes in the number of households in the US across five annual income categories in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, it is evident that the figures varied considerably across the categories, with some recording substantially higher figures, while another registered the lowest figure. In addition, some remained comparatively stable over the given period.

Looking at the details, the number of households earning less than $25,000 stood at precisely 25 million in 2007, and then it rose to approximately 28 million in 2011. Thereafter, in 2015, it fell to roughly 27 million. Furthermore, the $75,000-$99,999 earning category stood at nearly 14 million in 2007 and this category fell to around 13 million in 2011, after which it rose to exactly 15 million in 2015. Moreover, the number of households earning $50,000-$74,999 category remained relatively stable at exactly 21 million over the given period.

Turning to the next categories, the $100,000 or more category earning started at close to 29 million in 2007. Afterwards, this category fell to slightly below 27 million in 2011 before rising to just over 33 million in 2015. Meanwhile, the number of households in the $25,000-$49,999 was recorded at almost 26 million in 2007. Subsequently, this category increased steadily to precisely 30 million in 2011, after which it dropped to just under 27 million in 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by presenting an overview and reporting the main features and comparisons from the bar chart. The main trends and categories are accurately covered, such as the highest and lowest earning groups and the stability of the middle-income bracket. Data points are generally referenced well, although there are minor discrepancies with the precise source figures (for instance, the $25,000–$49,999 category in 2007 is listed as 27 in the data rather than 'almost 26 million'). Nevertheless, the overall reporting is clear, well-supported, and meets the requirements for a Band 7.0 by covering all parts of the prompt with relevant data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear overarching progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, followed by a general overview, and then details the data across logical groupings in subsequent body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used adequately to connect ideas, such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'Meanwhile', though some transitional phrases feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different categories of the chart. Referencing is generally clear, contributing to an easy-to-follow structure that satisfies the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, employing terms such as 'fluctuated', 'remained relatively stable', and 'category'. There are attempts to use less common lexical items and precise modifiers ('precisely', 'roughly', 'stepped up'). However, there are some minor awkward collocations or phrasing choices, such as 'the $100,000 or more category earning started', which lacks smooth phrasing. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, causing no impediment to communication, aligning well with a Band 6.5 or 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

A good mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used throughout the response, featuring subordinate clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'after which it rose to exactly 15 million in 2015'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the grammar and punctuation are generally well-controlled. Minor structural slips occur, such as the awkward word order in 'the $100,000 or more category earning started', but these do not impede communication. The control demonstrated across a variety of sentence forms fits the Band 7.0 profile well.

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