Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-01
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 graph shows the amount earned annually by individuals in the US in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
The figures are given in millions and lowest amount is less than $25,000 and highest amount is $100,000.
Overall, the number of people who earned highest income is significantly higher than those who earn lower income in all three trends. Whereas, households who earned around $75,000 were in very low numbers in all three trends.
In 2007 around 29-million individual earned more than $100,000, but in 2011, figure fell slightly at around 27-million, and finally 2015 it rose significantly up to 33-million. Comparitively, both less than 25000 and up to 50000, remained slightly equal in all three trends.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response addresses the task only partially, and importantly, it fails to meet the minimum length requirement of 150 words, standing at only 115 words. While you attempt to provide an overview and mention some specific data points such as the figures for households earning over $100,000 in 2007, 2011, and 2015, the selection of information is limited. Furthermore, there are inaccuracies in your interpretation of the chart; for instance, you state that the highest income group was significantly higher than others in all three trends, whereas the chart shows that in 2007 the lowest income group and the $25,000–$49,999 group had comparable or higher numbers. To improve, you must ensure you write at least 150 words, present a more accurate reading of the data, and cover all income categories adequately.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The text shows some organization with a basic introduction and overview, but there is no clear overall progression across the body paragraphs. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas is somewhat disjointed. Cohesive devices are used minimally and occasionally inaccurately, such as the awkward transition 'Comparitively, both less than 25000 and up to 50000, remained slightly equal in all three trends.' Referencing is also weak, relying on repetitive phrases like 'in all three trends' rather than varying how you link back to the data. To reach a higher band, you need to ensure that your ideas flow logically from one sentence to the next with a wider range of cohesive devices and more sophisticated paragraph structuring.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is limited but minimally adequate to convey basic information about the chart. You make noticeable errors in word choice and phrasing, such as writing 'the amount earned annually by individuals' (the chart shows households, not individuals) and referring to data points as 'trends' rather than years or categories. Spelling and word forms show some basic control, but terms like 'Comparitively' contain spelling slips. The range of vocabulary is restricted, relying heavily on simple descriptors like 'highest', 'lower', and 'significantly'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate a wider range of precise lexical items related to data reporting, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', or 'remained stable', while ensuring your terminology matches the exact subject of the prompt.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You demonstrate a limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences and occasional faulty attempts at complex clauses. There are frequent grammatical errors that can cause difficulty for the reader, including missing articles, pluralization issues, and subject-verb agreement errors, such as 'lowest amount is less than $25,000 and highest amount is $100,000' and 'around 29-million individual earned'. Punctuation is also problematic, seen in unnecessary commas and hyphenation errors like '29-million'. To improve, you need to practise constructing error-free complex sentences using relative clauses, participial phrases, and accurate past tense verbs when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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