Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-25

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 5.0)

The bar chart compares tjhe number of US houdeholds by their income in 2007, 2011 and 2015, with figures given in millions.

Overall, the number of income droped and also got higher in all three years over the period. In 2015 illustrates the highest income, whereas 2007 and 2011 are almost ecual.

By 2011, the number of income is the lowest despite from 2007 and 2015. The lowest was not more than 15million hpuseholders and highes not more than 30 million.

In 1015, householders had the highes number of income, while in 2011 is shown as the most year with lowes income. The lowes is shown as 15 million got 99,000$ million and highest as 33 or 34million got 100,000$ million and more.

In all three years, stable salary was near 25,000$ milion and 99,000$milion, although in 2015 the number of income was more that other two, which means the sallary is increasing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies the chart’s subject and attempts an overview, but the main features are not reported accurately or clearly. The claim that “the number of income droped and also got higher in all three years” is too vague, and the statement that 2015 had the “highest income” confuses income levels with the number of households. Some figures are recognisable: the $75,000–$99,999 group is around 15 million, and the $100,000-or-more group reaches about 33–34 million in 2015. However, the claim that the lowest figure was in 2011 is misleading: the $75,000–$99,999 category is lowest overall, while the $50,000–$74,999 group stays near 21 million. Focus on household counts, compare categories, and give a precise overview of the main trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation: an introduction is followed by an overview and further paragraphs, and time markers such as “By 2011” and “In 2015” help signal comparisons. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the same broad points are repeated, while categories and years are not consistently linked. For example, “the number of income is the lowest” does not make clear which income band is being discussed, and the final sentence introduces “stable salary” without explaining its connection to the chart. Use one paragraph for the overall trends and organise the details by income band or by year. Clear references to each category would make the comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

Vocabulary is basic and repetitive, with frequent inaccurate choices that sometimes obscure the intended meaning. Phrases such as “number of income,” “highest income,” and “stable salary” do not accurately describe the number of households in each income band; “household count” and “income category” would be more suitable. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “tjhe,” “houdeholds,” “ecual,” and “lowes.” The response does make some relevant attempts, such as “figures given in millions” and “over the period,” but it needs more precise chart language and careful spelling. Practise terms such as “rose,” “remained stable,” and “accounted for” in sentences that accurately describe the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response uses some simple sentences and attempts longer structures, including “although in 2015 the number of income was more that other two.” However, complex attempts are often faulty, and errors in sentence structure and verb forms make several statements hard to interpret. For example, “In 2015 illustrates the highest income” lacks a clear grammatical subject, while “in 2011 is shown as the most year” has an incomplete construction. Comparisons also need grammatical framing, as in “more that other two.” Aim for clear subject–verb sentences, such as “The number of households earning $100,000 or more was highest in 2015.” Check articles, agreement, and punctuation when combining clauses.

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