Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-11

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 illustrates the US households count based on their yearly income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, there are five categories of income based on which the chart is designed. The majority of individuals produced highest salary range. The population of each category of the annual salaries' rose over the time.

To begin with first two categories of income, number of individuals bearing income less than 25 thousand dollars annually, initially were at 25 million in 2015, increased to about 29 million in 2011 before falling slighlty in 2015. Similar trend was noticed between those whose income range was 25-49 thousand dolllars, however, in 2011 these individuals population was second largest over other numbers.

Coming to other three classes of earnings, the quantity of households who earn more than 50 thousand dollars but less than 75, were just over 20 million and this figure continued in three years. The lowest number of salaries was noticed in those whose salary is 75-100 thousand, maintaining same figure of 15 million. Finally, there was considerable rise in the number who fall in the category of 100 thousand or more, to around 33 million in 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart’s subject and report several relevant figures, including the stable $50,000–$74,999 group and the rise in households earning at least $100,000 by 2015. However, the overview is unclear and includes inaccurate generalisations: “the population of each category … rose” is not supported, since the $50,000–$74,999 figure stayed level and the $75,000–$99,999 group changed only slightly. The claim that the lowest number was in the $75,000–$99,999 category is also incorrect for 2011, when it was the smallest, but not in 2007 or 2015. There is a confusing date error in the first category (“initially … in 2015”). Select the main contrasts accurately and give a clear overview of the highest and lowest groups and their changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs grouping the first two income bands and then the remaining three. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with” and “Finally” help readers follow the description. However, the overview does not clearly summarise the main trends, and some transitions are awkward or mechanical, particularly “Coming to other three classes of earnings.” The first body paragraph also becomes difficult to follow because the sequence of years is muddled in the sentence about the under-$25,000 group. Improve progression by organising comparisons around clear trends—for example, the stable middle-income group versus the changing highest-income group—and use linking phrases that make those relationships explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant income-related vocabulary, including “income range,” “annual salaries,” “considerable rise,” and “category,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a chart. The graph counts households, but the response repeatedly refers to “individuals” and “population”; “bearing income” and “quantity of households” are also awkward collocations. There are noticeable spelling errors, including “slighlty” and “dolllars,” and “salary” is not the best term for household income. Use precise chart language consistently, such as “the number of households,” “income band,” and “stood at,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “those whose income range was 25–49 thousand dollars” and a participial phrase in “maintaining same figure.” However, some sentence structures and grammatical forms are inaccurate or awkward. For example, “the US households count” has an unnatural noun construction, while “number of individuals … initially were at” has faulty agreement and phrasing. The sentence beginning “The majority of individuals produced highest salary range” is also difficult to interpret. Articles and possessives are sometimes missing, as in “maintaining same figure” and “individuals population.” Aim for clearer subject–verb structures, accurate articles, and consistent past-tense reporting; these changes will make your comparisons easier to understand.

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