Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-15

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 given chart compares the household(in millions) in the US based on their annual income in three different years which is 2007, 2011 and 2015 categorized in 5 different earning range.

Overall, there are highest number of household earning more than $100,000 in most cases and the earning between $75,000 to $99,999 is least for most household in each given year.

In 2007, the earning of around 29 million household was more than $100K which was the highest number followed by 27 million households with earning between $25K to $49,999. The least households had yearly earning between $75K to $99,999. Around 25 million and 21 million households had earnings less than $25K and between $50K to $74,999 respectively.

After 4 years, in 2011, these numbers increased for some categories and for others it decreased. Number of households with less than $25K increased slightly and reached to 29 milion and for more than $25K and $49,999 it touched 30 millions.

In 2015, the last categ

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart’s subject and give a relevant overview, noting that the $75,000–$99,999 group is generally the smallest and that high-income households are prominent. You also report several 2007 figures accurately. However, the response only partially covers the data: the 2011 paragraph gives two figures but does not describe the other categories, and the final paragraph is cut off after “In 2015, the last categ…”, leaving that year’s key changes unreported. The overview is also too broad: households earning $100,000 or more were not the largest group in 2011, and the $75,000–$99,999 category was not the smallest in 2015. Include a complete comparison of all three years and qualify trends precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs for 2007, 2011 and 2015. Time markers such as “In 2007” and “After 4 years” help the reader follow the sequence. However, progression is incomplete because the final paragraph stops mid-phrase, and the 2011 discussion does not connect its figures to the overall pattern or cover all categories. Some linking is also mechanical, with repeated year-by-year openings and “and” joining figures without showing their relationship. Grouping categories by trend—for example, those that rose, stayed stable or changed direction—would create clearer comparisons and a more complete progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “households,” “annual income,” “categorized,” “increased slightly” and “followed by,” so the topic is generally clear. However, several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “the earning between” and “the least households,” while “more than $25K and $49,999” does not clearly express the income band. There are also noticeable spelling and form errors, including “milion” and “earning range.” Use consistent, accurate labels such as “income band,” “households earning,” and “the $25,000–$49,999 bracket.” Greater precision in describing comparisons would make the limited range more effective and reduce the risk of confusing the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the main meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction recur: “the household(in millions)” needs a plural noun and clearer punctuation, while “there are highest number of household” has problems with the article, superlative structure and plural agreement. The phrase “which is 2007, 2011 and 2015” also shifts tense awkwardly, and “Around 25 million and 21 million households had earnings…” lacks a clear parallel structure. Use controlled patterns such as “The number of households earning… was…” and check articles, plurals and verb agreement. More accurate sentence construction would make the comparisons easier to follow.

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