Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-09

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 chart illustrate the variations of households holding electronic devices(washing machines, refrigerator, vacuums) and the total hours spent per week on household tasks (washing clothes, cooking, cleaning) from 1920 to 2019.

Overall, it is evident that the proportion of households used vacuum cleaners showed upward trend while washing machines had some fluctuations throughout the period. In addition, the amount of daily tasks per week gradually decreased.

In 1920, refrigerators started from the proportion 0 to slightly increased at approximately 55% meanwhile, 40% of people used washing machines and 30% of people used vacuum cleaners and the 50 hours total spent on the tasks. From 1940 to 1960 refrigerator sharply increased from approximately 55% to 90%. Washing machine slightly increase from 60% to 70% and households dropped in the period at 20 hours.

Moving to rest details, the total hours significantly dropped from 20 to around 10 hours over the period 1980 to 2019. Moreover, electronic device vacuum cleaner rose from 90% to 100% and than remained stable in the year 2019. Washing machine had some fluctuations before rising to around 75% in 2019 while Refrigretor stopped at 100% and than remained unchanged over the period 1980 to 2019.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main trends in appliance ownership and housework hours. You successfully highlighted the inverse relationship between the rise in appliances and the decline in time spent on chores. However, the report is slightly hindered by inaccurate data reporting; for instance, you state that in 1920, refrigerators started at 0% and reached 55%, but the chart shows 0% in 1920 and a different trajectory. Additionally, the description of the 1940-1960 period is somewhat confusing regarding the specific figures. To improve, ensure that data points are cited with greater precision and that the overview clearly synthesizes the overall trends rather than just listing them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas, moving from general trends to specific data points. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moving to rest details', and 'Moreover'. However, the transition 'Moving to rest details' is slightly unnatural and informal. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly rather than relying on simple chronological listing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'variations', 'proportion', 'fluctuations', and 'remained stable'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'Refrigretor' and 'than' used instead of 'then'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band. To reach a higher score, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. Ensure that you proofread for basic spelling errors, as these minor slips detract from the overall quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The line chart illustrate' (subject-verb agreement), 'proportion 0 to slightly increased' (missing preposition/article), and 'households dropped in the period at 20 hours' (unclear phrasing). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing trends and data points. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures would also help elevate your score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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