Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-31
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 line charts show the changes in ownership of electrical appliances and amount of time spent doing housework in households in one country between 1920 and 2019. First chart illustrates the information about the electrical appliances washing machine, refrigenerator, and vacuum cleaner. First of all, it show washing machine ownership increase till 1960 and fall in 1980, however, again show a upward trend. Additionaly, it shows refrigenerator ownership illustrate the upward trend from 1920 to 1980 and during 1980 to 2000 it remain constant. Lastly, vacuum cleaner owership also illustrate the upward trend till 2000 and remain constant during 2000 to 2019. Second chart displays the housework per week including washing, clothes, preparing meals, and cleaning. It show that in 1920 people prefer do their own work itself and average person spend atleast 50 hours per week but this trend drop till 1980 and remain constant during 1980 to 2000, however, show more drop till 2019.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by describing both charts. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the main trends. The description of the data is often repetitive, using phrases like 'upward trend' or 'remain constant' without synthesizing the information effectively. For example, the description of the washing machine ownership is slightly inaccurate regarding the 1980 dip, and the overall comparison between the two charts—the inverse relationship between appliance ownership and housework time—is not explicitly highlighted. To reach a higher band, you should group data more logically and provide a clear summary of the most significant trends at the beginning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into two paragraphs, which is appropriate for this task. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'First of all', 'Additionaly', 'Lastly'). The progression of ideas within paragraphs is somewhat disjointed, as the sentences often read like a list of data points rather than a cohesive report. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the transition between the two charts is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences flow logically from one to the next would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several spelling errors, such as 'refrigenerator' and 'owership', and some awkward phrasing like 'people prefer do their own work itself'. The range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptors, and there is a lack of flexibility in reporting the data. To improve, focus on using a wider range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' (e.g., 'climb', 'decline', 'fluctuate') and ensure accurate spelling of key terms. You should also aim to use more sophisticated collocations to describe trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'it show', 'refrigenerator ownership illustrate') and tense usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences and missing commas. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors and the lack of complex sentence structures limit the score. To improve, practice using a mix of complex sentences with subordinate clauses and ensure that your verbs agree with their subjects. Proofreading for basic errors like missing articles and verb endings will also help.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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