Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-20

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 graph illustrates the intergers of households(millions) in the US by their annual earning in 2007,2011 and 2015. Overall, households earning 100,000$ or more increased during the hole period, while all the earnind remained same throughout the entire duration.

It can be seen that,households earning 100,000$ or more begins at almost 27 millions in 2007 and slightly increases about to 32 millions in 2015, while households earning less than 25000$ initiates with 25 millions in 2007, and increased to 27 millions in 2011, and then decreased about to 27 millions in 2015.

In terms of, households earning $25,000-$49,999 started with approximately 27 millions in 2007,and increased to 30 millions in 2011,and fall down to 28 millions in 2015.On the other hand households earning $50,000-$74,999 initiates with 20 millions in 2007, and ramains same throughout the period. Although the households earning $75,000-$99,999 begins at almost 14 millions in 2007, and decreased to 13 millions in 2011, and then increased to 15 millions in 2015. This figure showed a bit change during the time period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover all five income groups and include an overview, identifying the rise in households earning $100,000 or more and the relative stability of other categories. However, the overview is not fully accurate: the $25,000–$49,999 group also rises overall, and the $50,000–$74,999 group stays stable, while the $75,000–$99,999 group changes slightly. Several figures are understated or misreported: the highest-income group is about 29.5 million in 2007 and 33.5 million in 2015, not 27 and 32; the under-$25,000 group is about 28 million in 2015, not 27. The main features are present, but these inaccuracies and the broad claim that all other earnings remained the same limit the precision of the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs comparing the income groups. This helps the reader locate the main information, and phrases such as “On the other hand” signal a comparison. However, progression is weakened by the overview’s inaccurate generalisation and by some mechanical or awkward linking, including “In terms of” and “Although” where a straightforward comparison would be clearer. The final sentence, “This figure showed a bit change,” repeats the idea of variation without adding a useful comparison. Grouping the categories by their trends and using clear references to each year would make the organisation more logical and the connections between details more effective.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “households,” “annual,” “increased,” “decreased,” and “throughout the period,” so the reader can generally understand the comparisons. However, the range is limited and several noticeable word-choice, spelling, and collocation errors reduce precision. For example, “intergers” is not the right word for the chart’s figures, “annual earning” should refer to income or earnings, and “fall down” is not a natural way to describe a declining number. “A bit change” is also unclear. Repeated use of “begins” and “increased” makes the account less varied. Choose standard chart language and check spelling and word forms to make the descriptions more accurate and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences with clauses, such as the comparison beginning “while households earning less than 25000$…”. However, complex sentences are often not controlled successfully, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and punctuation occur throughout. For example, “households … begins” needs a plural verb, while “all the earnind remained same” has problems with both the noun phrase and verb construction. The sentence beginning “Although the households…” is not completed as a concessive structure, and several clauses are joined with commas rather than clearly punctuated. Use shorter, complete sentences when needed, and check subject–verb agreement and consistent past-tense reporting.

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.