Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-13

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 6.0)

The bar chart illustrates the number of US households by annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015. 5 different ranges of income are compared in each year, and they slightly change over the years.

In 2007, there are 25 millions of households which earns less than $25,000, while those of who earn $100,000 or more is approximately 30 millions.However, in 2011, the number of households that earns less than $25,000 increase to 29 millions, whereas those of who earn $100,000 or more slightly decrease to 28 millions. The other households whose income ranges - $50,000-$79,999, $75,000-$99,999 - remain almost unchanged or slightly differ except $25,000-$49,999, which noticably increase to 30 millions.

In 2015, the numbers of household of less than $25,000, and $25,000-$49,999 decrase slightly again. Moreover, the households of $100,000 or more sharply increase to over 30 millions which is the highest record in 8 years period. While the rest slightly increase.

Overall, the number of households that earns less than $50,000 increase, and those of $50,000-$99,999 flacuate, whereas those of $100,000 or more surpassed the rest.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the chart’s subject and cover all three years, with relevant comparisons between the lower-income groups and the $100,000-or-more group. The overview also recognises that the highest-income category ends as the largest. However, some details are inaccurate or too general: the $50,000–$74,999 group is reported as $50,000–$79,999, and the claim that households earning under $50,000 increased overall overlooks that both groups finish below their 2011 peaks. “The rest slightly increase” is also imprecise: the $50,000–$74,999 category stays level, while the $75,000–$99,999 category rises only slightly. More precise reporting of these differences would make the response more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, year-by-year details, and a concluding overview. Time markers such as “In 2007,” “in 2011,” and “In 2015” help the reader follow the data, while “whereas” and “Moreover” signal comparisons and additions. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent organisation and shows some flexibility in linking ideas. However, the overview comes after the detailed account, and the final paragraph partly repeats earlier information rather than synthesising the main trends. Some links are awkward, particularly the sentence beginning “While the rest slightly increase,” which is not a complete sentence. Grouping the income bands by similar trends and using clearer references would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “number of households,” “income ranges,” “decrease,” “increase,” and “highest record,” so the main information is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more precise language, such as “sharply increase” and “remain almost unchanged.” However, several word-choice and spelling problems reduce accuracy: “flacuate,” “decrase,” and “noticably” are misspelled, while “highest record” is an unnatural collocation in this context. Repeated use of “households” and “slightly” also limits flexibility. Aim for accurate trend verbs and natural phrases such as “reached the highest figure” or “remained stable”; this would make the vocabulary more precise without requiring unnecessarily complex wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including comparisons with “while” and “whereas,” and most of the intended meaning can be followed. However, some grammatical errors recur. For example, “25 millions of households” should use the plural noun “million,” and “households which earns” has incorrect subject–verb agreement. The phrase “those of who earn” is also structurally faulty, and “the number … increase” needs a past-tense verb when describing the chart. Punctuation is occasionally problematic, as in “30 millions.However,” and “While the rest slightly increase” is a fragment. Check agreement, tense consistency, and sentence boundaries; these corrections would improve control while preserving your range of sentence forms.

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