Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-03
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 chart depicts the information about changes in ownership of electrical appliances and amount of time spent in doing household chores in a country between the years 1920 to 2019.
Overall, one line graph represents the percentage of households and the 3 different electrical appliances that are washing machine, refrigerator and vacuum cleaner. While other graph have the data about number of hours of housework done per week. Both the graph has data from 1920 to 2019.
In the first graph it can be observed that no house had refrigerator before 1920 but after that it significantly grew in number and reached to hundred percent till 1980. Whereas, washing machine and vacuum cleaner were common in 1920 but a limited percent of households had them. Washing machine ownership grew a little bit in the following years of 1920. But on the other hand vacuum cleaner ownership grew on a gradual rate and reached hundred percent in 2000's.
In the year 1920 number of hours of housework was 50 hours but declined in the year 1960 from 30% and kept declining till 2019 and stopped at 10 hours per week.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the main features of the charts, identifying the trends in appliance ownership and the decline in housework hours. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the description of the washing machine and vacuum cleaner trends is vague, and the comparison between the two graphs is missing. The data points are occasionally inaccurate, such as stating the refrigerator reached 100% by 1980 when the graph shows it peaking earlier or differently. To reach a higher band, you should provide a more precise summary of the data, ensuring that the key trends are clearly highlighted and supported with accurate figures from the charts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'In the first graph' and 'In the year 1920' are used repeatedly, which makes the flow feel repetitive. Additionally, the transition between the two graphs is abrupt. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, such as 'consequently', 'in contrast', or 'furthermore', and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'grew', 'number', and 'data'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'reached to hundred percent' (should be 'reached 100%') and 'declined in the year 1960 from 30%' (which is confusingly phrased). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'a significant proportion', and pay closer attention to collocations to ensure your writing sounds more natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Both the graph has data' (subject-verb agreement error), 'declined in the year 1960 from 30%' (incorrect preposition usage), and 'reached hundred percent in 2000's' (incorrect article and punctuation). While the meaning is generally understandable, these recurring errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that your sentences are grammatically sound will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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