Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-06

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 the yearly earning of US households which comprises of year 2007, 2011 and 2015. There are five segments for income starting from less than $25,000 to more than $100,000.

Overall, the data was involves the result of three phases as 2007, 2011 and 2015. The year 2015 showcased the maximum number of highest salary earners were just above 30 millions, while the least were roughly 15 millions.

In first phase, there were less households for both the first and second segment of income. In second phase, there were least houses earning income slab $75,000 to $99,999, whereas nearly 30 million people earn revenue from $25,000 till $49,999.

In addition, the third phase consists of highest proportion of men and women earning greater than $100,000.

However, it is evident that income earners less than $25,000 reflected a significant difference after year 2007. Although, the range from $50,000 to $74,999 presented to be stable throughout the given period.

In summary, there are less people earning revenue initiating from $75,000 to $99,999, which is followed by next section building from $50,000 to $74,999.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response partially addresses the task by attempting to report the main features of the chart, but the information is presented in a somewhat confused and imprecise manner. The division of the data into 'phases' (e.g., 'In first phase', 'In second phase', 'In addition, the third phase') is confusing and does not effectively structure the analysis of the years 2007, 2011, and 2015. Furthermore, some of the data points cited lack clarity or precision, such as stating that 'the maximum number of highest salary earners were just above 30 millions' when the 2015 figure for the highest income bracket is actually 33.5 million. To reach a higher band, the writer needs to select and report the main trends and key comparisons more clearly without inventing non-existent temporal phases.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates some organisation through paragraphing, but there is no clear overall progression or logical development of ideas. The transition words and cohesive devices used, such as 'In first phase', 'In second phase', and 'In addition, the third phase', are mechanical and inaccurate since the chart depicts three specific years rather than sequential chronological phases of a single cycle. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of comparisons. To improve coherence and cohesion, the writer should use logical groupings based on income categories or overall trends rather than forced chronological stages, and employ more natural cohesive devices to link sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task, with noticeable errors in word choice and collocation that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. Phrases such as 'yearly earning of US households', 'people earn revenue', and 'highest proportion of men and women' demonstrate awkward phrasing and imprecise use of economic terms. There are also noticeable awkward collocations like 'least houses earning income slab'. While the writer attempts some less common vocabulary, inaccuracies in word choice prevent the response from achieving a higher band. To improve, the student should focus on precise lexical items related to statistical reporting and data description, avoiding informal or inaccurate expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response relies on a limited range of structures and contains frequent grammatical errors. There are notable issues with verb forms and tense consistency, such as 'the data was involves the result of', as well as problems with subject-verb agreement and prepositional usage, as seen in 'earning income slab $75,000 to $99,999'. Attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty, leading to awkward and sometimes ungrammatical phrasing like 'income earners less than $25,000 reflected a significant difference after year 2007'. Punctuation and article usage also show frequent inaccuracies. To improve, the writer needs to work on basic sentence construction, ensure correct verb tenses when describing data, and reduce the frequency of grammatical slips.

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