Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-31
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 graph illustrates the changes occurred in home electrical products divided into three categories and time spent in household work in one region from 1920 to 2019.
Overall, the refrigerator and vacuum cleaner had the highest percentage and a small amount increased in washing machine. There were a huge decline occured in housework per week.
There is a significant increased takes place in refrigerator, in 1920 it was zero percent and huge climbed occurred from 1920 to 1950 around 90 percent and 100 percent used in 1980 for house work. Vacuum cleaner used were only 30 percent in 1920, and a huge rise about 70 percent change taken place between 1920 and 2000.
In washing machine used increased slightly from 1920 to 1960 about 35 percent and again a small decline occurred in between 1960 to 1980 but again recoverd it. The amount of time spent on housework peaked in 1920 at 50 hours per week. Huge decline occurred in 1960 to 20 percent and in 2019 the use of housework is only 10 percent per week.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You cover both charts and identify the main broad patterns: appliance ownership generally rose, while weekly housework fell. The figures for washing machines and vacuum cleaners are mostly represented in the right direction, and you note the housework peak at 50 hours. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: refrigerators were at about 2%, not zero, in 1920, and rose to around 90% by 1960—not by 1950. The statement that refrigerators and vacuum cleaners had the “highest percentage” also overlooks that washing machines began at a higher level than refrigerators. Your overview would be stronger if it clearly stated that refrigerators and vacuum cleaners reached full household coverage, while washing machines remained lower and fluctuated slightly.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, and separate discussion of appliance ownership and housework. This gives the reader a coherent overall route through the information. Some progression is weakened by unclear links and imprecise references, however. For example, “from 1920 to 1950” does not match the chart’s year points, and “100 percent used in 1980 for house work” makes it difficult to tell whether you mean refrigerator ownership or housework. Repeated phrases such as “huge decline occurred” and “huge rise” also make the connections between data points feel mechanical. Use clearer comparisons and refer explicitly to each series and year.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “decline,” “increased,” and “peaked,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There is some attempt to vary language, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing data: “a small amount increased in washing machine,” “huge climbed,” and “the use of housework” do not express the intended trends precisely. Repetition of “huge” also limits the range and makes the description less measured. Choose standard collocations such as “rose sharply,” “increased gradually,” “fell substantially,” and “hours spent on housework.” Check word forms and spelling, including “occurred” and “recovered,” to make the vocabulary more controlled.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, some sentence structures and verb forms are inaccurate, as in “The line graph illustrates the changes occurred” and “There is a significant increased takes place.” These need a clearer grammatical pattern, such as “illustrates changes in” and “There was a significant increase.” Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or misplaced, for example in “in washing machine used increased.” The final sentence, “the use of housework is only 10 percent per week,” has a faulty structure and confuses the measure; the chart reports hours, not a percentage. More consistent past-tense reporting and simpler, accurately formed comparisons would improve control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.