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 compares the number of households categorised by their yearly income in the US in three different years 2007,2011 and 2015.

Overall, it is evident from the graph that households with higher income was at the top position while households with avaerage income was at the least all over three years data.

To begin with, houses with low per annum income less than $25,000 and upto $49,000 ranges between 25 to 30 million households all over the time period. Whereas, households with moderate yearly income from $50,000to $74,999 falls in mid range of around 20 millions, which remained stable at this position all over the period.

Further, households with a little higher income form $75,000 to $99,999 was at the lowest position around 15 million in 2007 reaching exactly 15 million in 2015, with a drop of 2 million in mid year 2011. Lastly, households having income more than $100,000 was accounted for almost 33 millions by the end of the time period, starting with nearly 30 millions in 2007, falling to 27 millions in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the chart’s subject and cover all five income groups, with relevant comparisons across the three years. The overview correctly notes that the $100,000-or-more group was largest by 2015 and that the $50,000–$74,999 group stayed broadly stable. However, the overview’s claim that average-income households were “at the least” is inaccurate: the $75,000–$99,999 group was the smallest in each year. Some figures and trends are also imprecise: the lowest-income group rose from about 25 million to around 28–29 million, while the $25,000–$49,999 group followed a similar pattern; the response combines them rather than distinguishing their changes. More precise reporting of the 2011 dip and 2015 high-income peak would make the key features clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing income groups. Sequencing expressions such as “To begin with,” “Further,” and “Lastly” help signal progression, and the reader can generally follow the comparisons. However, some linking is mechanical, and “Whereas” begins a fragment rather than a complete contrast. The overview also does not clearly prepare the reader for the detailed comparisons, while the final paragraph groups the high-income trend without explicitly contrasting its 2011 fall with its 2015 rise. Use fewer formulaic transitions and connect related trends directly, for example by grouping the two lower-income categories and then contrasting them with the highest category.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “categorised,” “yearly income,” “moderate,” “stable,” and “time period.” These choices make the topic understandable, and you attempt some variation rather than repeating “households” throughout. However, several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “at the top position,” “at the least,” “houses with low per annum income,” and “was accounted for almost 33 millions.” Spelling errors such as “avaerage” and “form” also reduce precision. Prefer standard chart language such as “the largest group,” “the smallest category,” and “stood at approximately 33 million households.” Check income-band labels carefully so that wording remains exact and comparisons are easy to interpret.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple statements and more complex structures, including clauses introduced by “while” and “with,” and the main trends are usually understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In the overview, “households with higher income was” has a subject–verb agreement problem; “households … were” is needed. The phrase “less than $25,000 and upto $49,000 ranges” lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the categories, and “$50,000to $74,999 falls” has spacing and agreement issues. There are also punctuation and sentence-boundary problems, including the comma after “2007” without a following space and the fragment beginning “Whereas.” Aim for complete, well-punctuated sentences and check agreement, plurals, and the structure of comparisons.

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