Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-22

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 6.5)

The bar chart illustrates data regarding the number of US households based on their annual earning, in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, there is no significant upward or downward trend found for any of the income ranges. The number of households with the income range from $50,000 to $74,999 was the same for the three given years. The other income ranges produced varying numbers, but with no significant trend.

In 2007, approximately 25 million US households had a yearly income of less than $25,000. The number of households increased for that income range in 2011, as approximately 29 million families earned less than $25,000 at that year. That number showed a bit of decrease in 2015 and ended at around 28 million. The similar trend can be seen for the next income range($25,000-49,999), as its number had an increase in 2011 and a subsequent decrease in 2015. It is worth mentioning that the highest number of households came from this income range in 2011, at just below 30 million. The next income range($50,000-$74,499) had a similar number of households for the given years, at around 21 million households The next income range($75,000-99,999) had the lowest numbers during the whole period. The last earning range($100,000 or more) started and ended up with the highest number of households, however they slipped to the 2nd position in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the chart’s subject and include a clear overview, correctly noting that the $50,000–$74,999 group stayed at about 21 million and that the $25,000–$49,999 group peaked in 2011. You also report the broad rise-then-fall pattern in the two lower-income groups. However, the overview is too general when it says there was “no significant upward or downward trend”: the $100,000-or-more group rose markedly by 2015, reaching the chart’s highest figure, about 33.5 million. The claim that the $75,000–$99,999 group had the lowest numbers throughout is inaccurate; it was the smallest group, but the $100,000-or-more group was not consistently highest. Correcting these comparisons and highlighting the 2015 high-income increase would make the key features more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and a body paragraph that moves through the income bands. This makes the information generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “In 2007” and “in 2011” help orient the reader. However, the body becomes a long sequence of category-by-category statements, with repeated use of “The next income range” and “number of households.” Some links are also unclear: “started and ended up with the highest number” does not specify clearly that this refers to the $100,000-or-more group’s position relative to the other bands in 2007 and 2015. Grouping similar trends and contrasting the changing top category with the stable middle band would create more purposeful progression and less mechanical cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “annual,” “income range,” “increased,” “decrease,” and “highest number,” so the main comparisons are understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “illustrates data regarding” and “It is worth mentioning.” However, some choices are unnatural or imprecise: “annual earning” is less suitable than “annual income,” and “produced varying numbers” does not clearly describe household totals. “Slipped to the 2nd position” is understandable but informal and awkward for an academic report. Check category labels carefully as well: the text gives “$50,000-$74,499,” whereas the chart shows $74,999. More precise collocations and consistent use of the chart’s terminology would improve control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “The number of households … increased …, as approximately 29 million families earned less” and a contrast introduced by “however.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical and punctuation errors remain. For example, “at that year” should be “in that year,” and “The next income range … had a similar number … The next income range” needs punctuation between the sentences. In “The last earning range … started and ended up …, however they slipped,” the pronoun reference is unclear and the comma splice should be corrected, for example by using a full stop or “while.” These are generally local issues; more careful sentence boundaries and reference would strengthen accuracy.

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