Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-08
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 provided line graphs illustrate the number of households using electrical appliances and the proportion of time spent doing house chores in a country from 1920 to 2019. Overall, the amount of time reduced in doing housework with the increase in usage of electrical appliances over a period of one century.
The proportion of households using vacuum cleaner and refrigerator was just under one-third and practically zero in 1920 respectively. Over the time, both experienced a considerable rise and achieved their peak of 100% in the year 1980 and 2000 respectively and then plateaued.
The number of washing machine users were two-fifths in 1920, and it experienced a steady increase and attained its peak at 70% in 1960. Afterwards, there was a gradual decline in 1980 before reaching at its highest point again in 2019.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main trends for the appliances, the second graph regarding the 'amount of time spent doing housework' is completely ignored in your analysis. To achieve a higher band, you must report on all data sets provided in the prompt. Furthermore, the overview is somewhat brief. You should aim to provide a more comprehensive summary of the key features, such as the inverse relationship between appliance ownership and housework time, to ensure all parts of the task are fully addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall' and 'Afterwards', to link sentences. However, the transition between the description of the appliances and the lack of information regarding the housework time creates a disjointed feel. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') to connect your points more fluidly. The current structure is functional but lacks the sophisticated flow required for higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main trends, such as 'considerable rise', 'plateaued', and 'steady increase'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'number of households using' is better expressed as 'proportion of households with', and 'amount of time reduced in doing housework' is slightly awkward. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked at', or 'a downward trend'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetition and demonstrate greater control over the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'The number of washing machine users were two-fifths' should be 'was two-fifths' (subject-verb agreement), and 'reaching at its highest point' is incorrect; it should simply be 'reaching its highest point'. There are also minor issues with preposition usage. To reach a higher band, focus on increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement. Proofreading for small errors like these will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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