Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-21

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 6.0)

The bar chart compares the annual income of the US households in years 2007, 2011 and 2015. Throughout these years, the least dominating households are the ones that has the annual income bracket of [redacted phone]0$. While the fluctuation in dominance was experienced by the household carrying the income value more than [redacted phone]$ annually. In 2007, 25 households were earning less than 25000$ annually and this number jumps to almost 28 in 2011, followed by a decline to 27 in 2015. A similar pattern is also observed among annual earners of [redacted phone]9$, starting from 27 households in 2007 and ending at 29 in 2015. However, a steady pattern is observed by households, earning an annual income of [redacted phone]9$ and [redacted phone]9$, maintaing a number of 21 and 15 respectively. On the contrary, the millionaires i.e earning more than [redacted phone]$ annually, shows fluctuation in their proportion over the years by beginning from 29 households in 2007 following a decline in 2011 and then recovering to 33 in 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several relevant patterns, including the low figures for the $75,000–$99,999 group and the rise in households earning at least $100,000 by 2015. The main comparisons are generally grounded in the chart, but some figures and trends are imprecise: the under-$25,000 group reaches about 28.5 million in 2011 and is still about 28 million in 2015, rather than falling to 27; the $25,000–$49,999 group peaks at about 29.5 million in 2011, not 29 in 2015. The overview also calls the highest-income group’s pattern a fluctuation without clearly stating that it fell and then rose to the chart’s highest figure. More precise reporting and a clearer overview would make the key features fuller.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a broadly understandable sequence: an opening summary is followed by comparisons of the income groups, and linking phrases such as “However” and “On the contrary” help signal contrasts. However, the organisation is weakened by placing several overview claims in the opening without a clear, concise summary of the main trends, then moving through categories in a somewhat repetitive way. “Throughout these years” and “While” create an incomplete opening construction, and the final sentence repeats the high-income group’s fluctuation already mentioned earlier. Use a distinct overview followed by logically grouped details, and make each transition express the relationship between the figures accurately. This would improve progression and reduce mechanical or unclear cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “bracket,” “steady pattern,” “decline,” and “recovering,” so the main information is usually understandable. Some choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a chart: “least dominating households” is unclear, “fluctuation in dominance” is not an appropriate description of changing numbers, and “millionaires” is not equivalent to all households earning over $100,000. Phrases such as “income value” and “carrying the income” also sound awkward. Aim for precise terms such as “income band,” “number of households,” and “the highest-income category.” Check spelling as well: “maintaining” is misspelled. These refinements would make the vocabulary more accurate and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including comparisons and participial phrases, and most sentences communicate the intended meaning. Some grammatical errors remain. In “the ones that has,” the verb should agree with the plural “ones”; “the household … shows” also needs plural agreement if referring to households. The opening fragment beginning “While the fluctuation…” is not a complete sentence, and “starting from 27 … and ending at 29” has an unclear subject. There are also tense and punctuation inconsistencies, such as “this number jumps” amid past-year reporting and missing commas around inserted phrases. Use complete sentences, maintain past tense for the chart years, and check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries.

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