Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-27

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 chart illustrate the information about the number of households in the united state by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Over all we can seen that the people had more than [redacted phone] dollars are available in very large numbers in the givien time period . On the other hand less than 25000 to 49999 dollars are higher as compair to others and thers shows diflection in these years .

Firsty , 25 thousand dollars annual income touchs almost 30 in 2007 and in 2011 it decrease and after it inccreases and reach almost 35 in the bar chart . But the income between 25 to 49 thousand is at almost 27 but in 2011 it increase slightly and became 30 , after some time it decrease that shown in the bar chart .

secoundly, the annual income between 50 thousand to 74,999 dollars are almost same in 2007, 2011 and 2015. The income between 75000 to 99999 dollaes are also almost same in the givien time period. and finally the [redacted phone] dollars is always higher than all, almost 35.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and include several relevant comparisons, especially that the $50,000–$74,999 group stayed stable and that the $100,000-or-more group rose to a peak in 2015. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: the highest category was not “always higher than all,” since it was below the $25,000–$49,999 group in 2011. The statement that the lower-income groups were “higher as compair to others” is also ambiguous. Some figures and trends are misreported: the under-$25,000 group rose from about 25 million to around 28–29 million, rather than falling in 2011, and the $75,000–$99,999 group changed only slightly. Select the main contrasts accurately and make the overview explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two body sections. Sequencing phrases such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “finally” help the reader follow the categories. However, progression is weakened by unclear links and references. For example, “less than 25000 to 49999 dollars” does not make clear which income group is meant, while “after some time it decrease” leaves the year and category implicit. The overview also combines several ideas without clearly distinguishing the main trends. Group the categories by their patterns—for example, rising, stable, or fluctuating—and use precise references to the income bands and years. This would make the organisation more coherent and cohesion less dependent on mechanical sequencing words.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “annual income,” “increase,” “decrease,” and “almost same,” so the reader can generally identify the topic and trends being discussed. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “people had more than 100000 dollars are available,” “touchs almost 30,” and “shows diflection.” Repetition of “income,” “almost,” and “in the bar chart” also makes the description less precise. Spelling errors such as “givien,” “secoundly,” and “dollaes” further reduce control. Practise using accurate terms for household totals and change, such as “the number of households,” “stood at,” and “rose to,” while checking spelling and avoiding vague expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with time clauses, as in “in 2011 it increase slightly and became 30, after some time it decrease.” This shows an effort to describe change across years, but control is inconsistent. Subject–verb agreement is faulty in “The bar chart illustrate” and “we can seen”; tense and verb forms are also inaccurate in “it increase” and “it decrease.” Articles and sentence boundaries need attention, particularly in “and finally the 100000 dollars is always higher than all, almost 35.” Several clauses are joined without clear punctuation, and the final sentence begins after a full stop with a lowercase “and.” Use past-tense verbs consistently for the historical data and check each sentence for a clear subject and complete verb.

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