Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-07

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)

In 2007 almost 25 million housel have annual income less than 25000 dollars whereas, there were 25 to 30 million household who have income between 25000 to 49999 dollars anually. Moreover, around 20 million households have anuall income ranging from 50000 to 74999 dollars and 15 million hosehold are thoose who have annual income ranging from 75000 to 99999 dollars. Households having highest income [redacted phone] dollars and more are around 30 million.

In 2011 around 30 million household were recorded having annual income less than 25000 dollar at same point 30 milliin househols were thoose who have 25000 to 49999 dollars annual income.20 million households were having 50000 to 74999 dollars of annual income and 15 million were having 75000 to 99999 dollars annual income.In same year 25 to 30 million households were having more than [redacted phone] dollars of annual income.

In 2015 25 to 30 million households were having less than 25000 dollars and almost same amount of households were having 25000 to 49999 dollars annual income. 20 million household were having 50000 to 74999 dollars of annual income and 15 million household were having 75000 to 99999 dollar annual income. This year more than 30 million household were having more than [redacted phone] dollars annual income

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You report figures for all three years and cover each income band, so the response is relevant to the chart. However, it mainly lists categories year by year and does not provide a clear overview of the main patterns or comparisons. Some figures are also imprecise: for example, the $25,000–$49,999 group was about 27 million in 2007, not “25 to 30 million,” and the 2011 figure for incomes below $25,000 was about 28.5 million rather than 30 million. The $100,000-or-more group rose to about 33.5 million in 2015, a notable peak that could anchor an overview. Select the most important trends and compare them accurately instead of giving a repetitive inventory.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic chronological structure: one paragraph each for 2007, 2011 and 2015. This makes it possible to follow the information, and words such as “Moreover” and “In 2011” signal additions and changes of year. However, there is no introduction or distinct overview, so the reader is not guided towards the chart’s main message. The repeated sequence of income bands in every paragraph also makes the progression mechanical, while some sentences run together without adequate spacing or punctuation. A clearer structure would introduce the chart, summarise the main trends, and then group comparisons—for example, the broadly stable middle-income bands versus the rise in the highest-income group.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant basic terms such as “households,” “annual income,” and “ranging from,” which help communicate the categories. However, the vocabulary is repetitive, especially the repeated phrase “were having,” and several spelling errors are noticeable: “housel,” “anuall,” “hosehold,” “thoose,” and “milliin.” These errors reduce precision and can make the reader pause. The response also relies on informal approximations such as “same amount” rather than more precise chart language. Build a small range of accurate reporting verbs and comparison phrases, and check spelling carefully. For example, “stood at,” “increased to,” and “remained stable” would help describe the data more efficiently and clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates the general subject and uses some longer sentence patterns, including comparisons introduced by “whereas.” However, the range is limited, and errors recur in sentence construction, agreement, articles and punctuation. Examples include “there were 25 to 30 million household who have income,” where the plural noun and relative clause do not agree, and “In same year,” which needs an article. Several sentences join separate ideas without a full stop, as in the 2011 sentence beginning “around 30 million household” and continuing with “at same point.” Use shorter, controlled sentences first, check singular and plural forms, and punctuate each comparison clearly before attempting more complex structures.

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

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