Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-16

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 bar demonstrates the annual income of the numbers of houses in the US for the years 2007,2011 and 2015.

Overall the households with income of 100,000$ or more were recorded the highest. Whereas the income of 75,000 $-99,999$ was among the least households.

The income of $100,000 or more was recorded highest among the all others in the year 2015 with the housholds of 33 millions followed by 29 millions households in 2007 and 28 millions in 2011. The income of $25,000-$49,999 was highest recorded by 30 millions households in 2011 followed by 2015 and 2007.

Whereas income bracket of $50,000-$74,999 was observed same throught the three years with 22 millions of households. Then the income bracket $75,000-$99,999 showed a variable trend with highest households in 2015 followed by 2007 and lowest recorded in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and include an overview, noting that households earning $100,000 or more were highest overall and that the $75,000–$99,999 group was among the smallest. You also report several relevant comparisons. However, the overview is not fully precise: the highest-income group peaked in 2015, but it was not the largest in every year, since the $25,000–$49,999 group was slightly higher in 2011. Some figures are also inaccurate: the $50,000–$74,999 category is about 21 million, not 22 million, and the highest-income group was about 27.5 million in 2011, not 28 million. The response is 14 words below the required minimum, limiting the detail available. Add a clearer overview and check figures against the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and further comparisons, so the reader can follow the main categories and years. You also use linking expressions such as “Overall,” “followed by,” and “Whereas.” However, the final two paragraphs are largely a sequence of category-by-category statements rather than a clearly grouped comparison of trends. “Whereas” begins a sentence fragment, and “Then” does not establish a clear relationship with the preceding information. Grouping categories with similar patterns—for example, the stable middle-income group and the changing highest-income group—would create stronger progression. Use cohesive devices to show contrasts and changes accurately, rather than relying repeatedly on “followed by.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “income bracket,” “households,” “highest,” and “variable trend,” and the income ranges are generally identifiable. This gives you enough vocabulary to communicate the main comparisons. However, several phrases are awkward or imprecise, such as “the annual income of the numbers of houses” and “highest recorded by 30 millions households.” There are also spelling errors, including “housholds” and “throught,” and inconsistent formatting of dollar amounts. These issues make the description less natural and occasionally less clear. Choose standard terms such as “number of households” and “income group,” and use accurate collocations such as “stood at approximately 30 million households.” Proofread spelling and number formatting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple statements and more developed comparisons, and most of the intended meaning can be understood. However, the range of sentence structures is limited, and some complex attempts are faulty. For example, “Whereas the income of $75,000–$99,999 was among the least households” is not a complete, well-formed comparison, while “The income of $100,000 or more was recorded highest among the all others” has problems with article use and sentence construction. In “with the housholds of 33 millions,” the number phrase is also grammatically incorrect. Aim for complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and practise comparative structures such as “This group had more households than…” Check articles, plural forms, and punctuation when joining clauses.

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