Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The bar chart shows the information on number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, there are five type of annual income catagaries (less then $25,000, $25,000 to $49,999,$50,000 to $74,999, $75,000 to $99,999 and more the $100,000). All these catagaries are also define by different colours ( green, white, skin and black).

In 2007, annual income less then $25,000 can hold 25 million houses and the income $25,000 to $49,999 can hovered between 25 milllion to 30 million. $75,000 to $99,999 hold 20 million and more the $100,000 can hold 30 million houses.

Afer in 2011, annual income less then $25,000 can hold about 30 million houses and income $25,000 to $49,999 can remian constant on its position. $75,000 to $99,999 hold 15 million houses. however, income between $50,000 to $75,000 at 15 % which is also similar as in 2007 and more the $100,000 can hold 27 million houses.

letter in 2015, all the data remain constant only there are an increase which is consider as a highest is given by more the $100,000 and it hold around 33 million houses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the chart’s subject and compare the three years, but the main features are not reported accurately or clearly enough. For example, the $75,000–$99,999 group is described as 20 million in 2007 and 15 million in 2011, whereas the chart shows about 14.5 million and 14 million. You also say the $25,000–$49,999 group remained constant in 2011, although it rose from about 27 million to 29.5 million. The overview mainly lists the income categories and colours rather than summarising the key trends. A stronger response would highlight that the $100,000-or-more group was highest in 2015, the $50,000–$74,999 group stayed stable, and several other groups changed only modestly, then support these points with accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs organised by year. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is being presented. However, the year-by-year sequence does not consistently build a clear comparison across income groups, and some links are confusing. For instance, “however” introduces the $50,000–$75,000 figure without a clear contrast, while “letter in 2015” does not clearly signal the final period. The overview also spends space listing categories and colours instead of guiding the reader to the main trends. Grouping related categories or comparing the highest and lowest figures across years would create clearer progression. Use linking expressions only where the relationship between the figures is explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant basic terms such as “bar chart,” “annual income,” “million,” and “increase,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the vocabulary is limited and several inaccurate word choices or collocations make the descriptions difficult to interpret. “Houses” is used where the chart counts households, and “can hold” does not naturally describe the number of households in an income band. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “catagaries,” “remian,” and “Afer.” The colour description is not useful for summarising the data and appears incomplete. Aim for precise chart language, such as “the number of households,” “stood at,” “rose to,” and “remained stable,” and check spelling and income-band labels carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can usually identify the years and income groups being discussed. However, the range of sentence structures is limited, and errors occur frequently in basic grammar and in attempts to connect clauses. Examples include “there are five type,” “all these catagaries are also define,” and “it hold around 33 million,” where agreement, number, or verb forms are not controlled. The sentence beginning “however, income between…” is also awkwardly constructed, and punctuation around sentence openings is inconsistent. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, plural forms, and past-tense reporting verbs. Short, well-formed comparisons would improve clarity before you attempt more complex sentences.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.