Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-31

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)

This bar chart illustrates the households annual income in the USA in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, in 2015, accounts the highest income. In contrast, in 2011, records the lowest income proportion. Every year achieved the highest level income more than $100,000 except in 2011. Every year $75000-$99,999 income level recorded the lowest figure.

In 2007, approximately 30 million people's annual income was more than $100,000. Two types of income level peoples ratio are very close. Less than $25,000 and $25,000-$49,999. These two are 25 million and slightly more than 25 million. The lowest figure achieved $75,000-$99,999 income peoples.

In 2011, acheived the same scenario like 2007. First two are very close. one was 30 million another was very close to 30 millon. Others figure were 21 million, 14 million and 28 milliom.

In 2015, more than $100,000 income people was close to 35 million. This year people can enhance their income level. many people income was avarage more than $50,000 and figure was 30 million closely.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several relevant features, including the high figures for the $100,000-or-more group and the relatively low figure for $75,000–$99,999. However, the overview is unclear and contains a key contradiction: you say 2015 had the highest income, then suggest 2011 had the lowest, without specifying that these are household counts in particular income bands. The claim that the highest-income group led every year except 2011 is inaccurate: it was the largest group in 2007 and 2015, while the $25,000–$49,999 group was largest in 2011. Some figures are reported, but the 2015 comparison that “many people” earned over $50,000 is vague and does not match the chart’s category totals. Select and compare the main trends more precisely to make the summary complete and clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for each year. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. However, progression within the overview is weakened by statements such as “in 2015, accounts the highest income” and “in 2011, records the lowest income proportion,” whose references are unclear. The year-by-year paragraphs also read like separate lists rather than a connected comparison, and “In 2011, achieved the same scenario like 2007” does not clearly explain what is being compared. Use clear subjects and linking phrases to show changes across years—for example, contrast the 2011 dip in the highest-income group with its rise by 2015. This would make cohesion less mechanical and improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant terms, including “approximately,” “figure,” and the income ranges, so the reader can identify the chart’s subject. However, vocabulary is limited and several word choices or collocations make the meaning unclear. “People’s annual income” is not the same as the number of households, while “income peoples ratio” and “enhance their income level” are unsuitable descriptions of the data. There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “acheived,” “millon,” “milliom,” and “avarage.” Aim for precise chart language and accurate spelling: describe the number of households in each income band, and use verbs such as “rose,” “fell,” or “remained stable” for trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both short statements and longer sentences, and the year-based paragraphs provide a basic framework. However, sentence structures are limited, and frequent errors in sentence formation and agreement sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “in 2015, accounts the highest income” has no clear grammatical subject, and “Every year achieved the highest level income” is missing a suitable subject and article. In “more than $100,000 income people was close to 35 million,” the noun phrase and verb do not agree. Practise building complete sentences with the chart category as the subject, such as “The number of households earning $100,000 or more rose to about 33.5 million in 2015.”

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