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 line chart illustrated the fluctuatioins of annual income of households in US in the year 2007,2011and 2015 with respective to the population.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that there is a rising trend in individuals earned @100,000 or more,which represents the largest share of income while people earned in the range of $75,000 and $99,000 remains stable in all three years.

The annual income of 25 million people in 2007 was less than $ 25,000 which slightly increase in 2011 almost 28 million people and in 2015 it redcued to approximately 27 million this this range but it rose overall while individuals earning between $ 25,000 to $50,000 increased moderately from approximately 26 million to 30 millionand then decline slightly to 28million.

Those persons had income in the range of $50,000 to $74,999 were just 22 million and they remained constant in all three years in 2007,2011 and 2015 the other category is fall between $75000 to 99000 these people were decline in numbers temporarily from 2007 to 2011 then again maintain the same number of 15 million and in the last the individuals earning more than 100,000 are the largest number of people first they decrease in numvber from 29 million toi 27 million then substantially increase to around 33 million.overall the most household in US were earning more than 100,000

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover all five income groups and identify the main overall pattern: the $100,000-or-more category ends as the largest, while the $50,000–$74,999 group stays broadly unchanged. Several comparisons are relevant, including the rise and subsequent fall in the two lowest brackets and the late increase in the highest bracket. This shows a clear grasp of the chart’s main features. Some details, however, are imprecise: the $75,000–$99,999 group does not remain stable throughout, and the final sentence overgeneralises by saying most households earned over $100,000; this was the largest single category, not a majority. More precise reporting of the 2015 values and clearer distinction between a category being largest and containing most households would strengthen the overview and support.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable overview followed by details about the income bands, so the reader can identify the intended structure. However, progression within the body is difficult to follow because several categories are packed into one long paragraph, with few clear transitions. Phrases such as “the other category” and “in the last” do not clearly signal which bracket is being discussed, and the repeated “overall” makes the ending feel repetitive rather than conclusive. The sequence of figures is also sometimes hard to track in sentences that combine multiple years and groups. Use separate, logically ordered paragraphs for lower and higher income bands, and connect comparisons with precise references such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “increased moderately,” “remained constant,” and “substantially increase,” and the income ranges are generally identifiable. However, the range is uneven and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes parts of the report awkward: “fluctuatioins of annual income,” “individuals earned,” and “maintain the same number” are not natural descriptions of household counts. Spelling slips such as “redcued” and “numvber” also detract from control. Prefer precise terms such as “the number of households,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained stable,” and use them consistently. Avoid describing the chart as showing people or individuals when its measure is households.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “while” and time comparisons, but control is inconsistent. Errors in verb forms and agreement appear in examples such as “which slightly increase” and “people earning … remains stable.” Some sentences lack clear grammatical boundaries or punctuation, particularly the long passage beginning “Those persons had income,” which joins several comparisons without full stops. Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or awkward, as in “households in US” and “with respective to the population.” These problems occasionally make relationships between figures difficult to follow. Build shorter, complete sentences first, check subject–verb agreement and past-tense forms, and then add complex clauses where the comparison remains clear.

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.