Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-16
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The charts below show the changes in ownership of electrical appliances and amount of time spent doing housework in households in one country between 1920 and 2019.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Percentage of households with electrical appliances (1920-2019)
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The first line graph illustrates the proportion of ownership of electrical appliances from 1920 to 2019. While the second line graph demonstrates the number of hours per week spent in housework in one country over the same period.
Overall, Number of hours of housework per week showed a decline throughout the period. On the other hand, refrigerator and vacuum cleaner remained most popular at the end of years.
Looking at the second line graph in detail, in 1920, 50 houses per week used electrical appliances. In 1940 this figure fall at around 35 to 20 in 1960. 1980 to 2000 this figure remained constant at 15 per week before reaching 10 in 2019
In 1920 percentage of refrigerator was 0% then it showed a significant growth and recorded 100% at 2000. While proportion of vacuum cleaner was 30% in 1920 and it showed substantial growth and recorded 100% in 2019.
Washing machine percentage was 40% in 1920
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the task but fails to provide a complete summary. While you identify the main trends, the description of the washing machine data is incomplete, ending abruptly without mentioning the final figures. Furthermore, the interpretation of the housework graph is inaccurate; you state '50 houses per week used electrical appliances' in 1920, which misinterprets the y-axis (hours spent on housework). To improve, ensure you accurately distinguish between the two different datasets and complete the reporting of all categories. The overview is present but lacks sufficient detail to fully capture the significant changes over the century.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by inaccurate data reporting and abrupt transitions. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'in 1920' and 'showed'. The connection between the two charts is not clearly established, and the final sentence is a fragment that lacks a concluding thought or proper integration into the paragraph. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'subsequently') to connect ideas more fluidly and ensure each paragraph has a clear, unified focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'showed a significant growth' and 'recorded 100%' are used multiple times, which limits the range. There are also issues with word choice, such as '50 houses per week used electrical appliances', where 'houses' is used instead of 'hours'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied verbs and nouns related to trends, such as 'surged', 'plummeted', 'stabilised', or 'a steady decline'. Expanding your repertoire of synonyms will help you avoid repetitive phrasing and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'this figure fall at around 35' (should be 'fell to') and 'percentage of refrigerator was 0%' (missing articles). The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the lack of full stops in some areas and the incomplete final sentence. To improve, focus on using a mix of complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions (e.g., 'While the percentage of refrigerators was 0% in 1920, it experienced a significant surge...'). Careful proofreading to correct basic verb tense and article usage will also significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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