Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-01

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 given bar chart illustrates the number if households in the United States by their annual income in different years 2007 ,2011 and 2015.

Overall, it is clear that household earning is higher 2015 which is approximately $100,000 or more and lowest income in group 2011 which is around to $75,000-$99,999.

In 2007, the $100,000 or more which is about to 25 millions, while 27 millions belongs to $25,000-$49,999.The household is approximately 21 millions which belongs to group $50,000-$74,999 ,the $75,000-$99,999 is approximately 15 millions. On other hand, less than $25,000 is related around to 29 millions.

In 2011, the household earning which is less than $25,000 is slightly around to 28 millions ,the earning about $25,000-$49,999 belongs to 30 millions, the household income $50,000-$74,999 which relates to 21 millions. In income which is $75,000-99,999 belongs to 14 millions ,at the end 28 millions belongs to group $100,000 or more.

In 2015, the household income group is less than $25,000 belongs to 28 millions , income of 27 millions related to $25,000-$49,999,the group income $50,000-$74,999 linked to 21 millions , 15 millions belongs to $75,000-$99,999 , at last $100,000 or more belongs to 33 millions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You cover all three years and report figures for each income band, so the response is relevant and includes a basic overview. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: the highest group in 2015 is correctly identified as $100,000 or more, but the lowest group is not $75,000–$99,999 in 2011; that category is the smallest, while the overview’s wording about “lowest income” confuses income level with household count. Several figures are also misreported, notably the 2007 top-income group, which is about 29.5 million rather than 25 million, and the 2007 under-$25,000 group, about 25 million rather than 29 million. Select the main trends more clearly and check comparisons against the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for 2007, 2011 and 2015. This makes the year-by-year information easy to locate. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, with repeated openings such as “In 2011” and “In 2015,” followed by a list of categories. Linking phrases such as “On other hand” and “at the end” do not always express the relationship between the figures clearly, and some references—such as “the household”—are vague. Grouping categories with similar trends, then using comparisons to connect them, would create a clearer progression and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “households,” “annual income,” “approximately,” and the income-band labels, so the reader can generally understand what is being described. However, the range of reporting language is limited, and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “household earning is higher 2015,” “belongs to,” and “is related around to.” These choices sometimes make the intended comparison difficult to follow. Use precise chart language and vary verbs such as “stood at,” “accounted for,” “rose,” and “remained stable.” Also check spelling and forms, including “if” in the opening sentence, which should be “of.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentence forms, including the overview beginning “Overall” and the year-by-year descriptions, but control is inconsistent. Errors in sentence structure and verb patterns occur frequently, as in “household earning is higher 2015” and “the $100,000 or more which is about to 25 millions.” Articles, agreement and plural forms also need attention: “the household income group is less than $25,000 belongs to 28 millions” combines clauses incorrectly, while “21 millions” should use the singular unit form after a number. Punctuation spacing is uneven, particularly around commas and category labels. Practise writing shorter, complete comparison sentences first, then combine them accurately with clauses such as “while” or “whereas.”

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