Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The provided data below illustrates the number of households in the United State by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, it is immediately apparent that the largest income was $100,000 or more in 2015. While the lowest income was almost the same over the given period. People who had income of $50,000-$74,000 remained the same throughtout the period of 2007, 2011 and 2015.

In 2007, 25 million of households had less than $25,000 annually. However, around 27 million had income between $25,000- $49,999. The largest figure in this year was just under 30 million who had $100,000 or more, compared to other years.

By 2011 and 2015, the highest income was between $100,000 or more in 2015. Additionally, the income of $75,000-$99,999 in both years was the lowest share.

Individuals who had the income of $25,000-$49,999 were between 28 million and 30 million in 2015 and 2011, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart’s subject and include several relevant figures, including 25 million households below $25,000 in 2007 and roughly 27 million in the $25,000–$49,999 group. However, the overview is incomplete and includes an inaccurate comparison: the $75,000–$99,999 group was not the lowest in 2011 or 2015; the $50,000–$74,999 group was lower. The claim that the lowest income was “almost the same” is also unclear, as this category rose from 25 million to about 28 million. You mention the top-income category’s 2015 peak but do not clearly summarise the main changes across all groups. The response is 142 words, below the 150-word minimum. Develop a more accurate overview and compare the key trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs with selected figures. Time references such as “In 2007” and “By 2011 and 2015” help orient the reader. However, the progression is not consistently clear. The overview’s statement about the “lowest income” is vague, and the later claim that the $75,000–$99,999 category was the lowest conflicts with the chart. The final sentence returns to the $25,000–$49,999 group without connecting it to the preceding comparison. Some linking words, including “However” and “Additionally,” do not clearly express the relationship between the figures. Group the information by meaningful trends and use precise references to categories and years.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing the chart, including “illustrates,” “remained the same,” “largest figure,” and “compared to.” Income bands and quantities are generally identifiable, so the reader can follow the main subject. There are, however, several imprecise or unnatural choices: “the largest income” refers to a category rather than a number of households, and “lowest share” is not the best description for figures measured in millions. “Individuals” is also less accurate than “households” for this chart. Spelling and word-form slips such as “throughtout” and “United State” reduce precision. Use consistent chart vocabulary, especially “number of households,” “income bracket,” and “rose/fell/remained stable,” to make comparisons clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “While” and a comparison using “compared to.” Most of the intended meaning remains understandable, but some sentence structures are incomplete or awkward. “While the lowest income was almost the same over the given period” is a dependent clause presented as a sentence, and “the highest income was between $100,000 or more” has a faulty construction. There are also errors in articles, plurals, and agreement, as in “25 million of households” and “the largest income was.” Aim to write complete sentences and check grammatical patterns around quantities and categories—for example, “25 million households” and “the largest number of households was in the $100,000-or-more bracket.”

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