Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

This bar chart illustrates information about the annual income of households in three time periods ( 2007, 2011, and 2015).

Overall, the number of households in each income bracket remained relatively stable in all three time periods, although the highest income group showed the most noticeable change. Households earning between $75000-$99999 were the smallest category throughout, while the group of [redacted phone]$ or more became the largest in the year 2015.

In 2007, approximately 29 million households earned [redacted phone]$ or more which was the highest figure that year. Followed by $25000-$49999 group, which is the second highest with roughly 26 million households. 25 million households fall in the group of less than $25000 group, compared with 20 million in the $50000-$74999 bracket. And just 14 million in the $75000-$99999 group.

By 2011, the $100,000-plus group had dropped to about 27 million, while the two lowest brackets rose slightly, to around 28 and 29 million respectively. The middle brackets barely changed. In 2015, however, the top bracket rose sharply to roughly 32 million, the highest figure in the chart, whereas the other four groups stayed close to their 2011 levels.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response selects the main features and gives a clear overview: the income groups are generally stable, the $75,000–$99,999 category is the smallest, and the $100,000-plus group becomes largest in 2015. Most figures and trends are accurately reported, including the top bracket’s fall in 2011 and sharp rise by 2015. There are a few small imprecisions: the $25,000–$49,999 figure in 2007 is closer to 27 million than 26 million, and the 2015 top bracket is about 33.5 million rather than 32 million. The statement that the other four groups stayed close to their 2011 levels is broadly fair, though it would be more precise to note that the $75,000–$99,999 group rose slightly. Overall, the key comparisons are well chosen and supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The information is organised effectively into an introduction, an overview, and chronological detail, making the comparisons easy to follow. The progression from 2007 to 2011 and then 2015 is clear, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “By 2011,” and “In 2015, however” guide the reader through the data. The overview also prepares the reader for the detailed figures by identifying the stable pattern and the standout change. Some connections within the 2007 paragraph are less smooth: “Followed by…” is a sentence fragment, and the sequence of figures could be joined more cleanly rather than presented as several short statements. More consistent sentence-level linking and clearer reference to the income groups would make the cohesion more polished.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for describing the chart and shows some flexibility. Phrases such as “remained relatively stable,” “most noticeable change,” “dropped,” and “rose sharply” communicate trends clearly, while “income bracket” and “highest figure” suit the task. There is some repetition of general terms such as “group” and “households,” and a few expressions are not fully precise or natural, including “the group of 100000$ or more” and “the smallest category throughout.” Income ranges are also written inconsistently, with missing commas and the dollar sign placed after the number in some instances. More consistent, conventional formatting and a wider selection of precise trend language would strengthen the lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and more complex structures, including the contrast in “although the highest income group showed the most noticeable change” and the time clauses beginning “By 2011” and “In 2015.” Most sentences are readily understood, and tense use is generally appropriate for past data. However, a few errors remain. “Followed by $25000-$49999 group” is a fragment and needs a subject and finite verb, while “25 million households fall” shifts into the present tense amid past reporting. The construction “less than $25000 group” also has an awkward repeated structure, and punctuation around the opening parenthesis is inconsistent. Revising these points while retaining the varied sentence forms would improve accuracy.

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