Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-11-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The pie charts below show how working adults in a particular country spent their time in 1958 and 2008.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* Note: these aren’t the original diagrams given in the test, they were recreated for the purpose of demonstration.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The pie charts illustrate how the day spend by working adults on different activities in a specific country in 1958 and 2008.

Overall, working accounted for largest proportion in both the year. The smallest prportion represented travelling to work and going out with friends and family in two different years.

Looking at the working category which is accounted for the highest proportion at 33% and 42% in 1958 and 2008 respectively. The second highest activity where the adult spent is sleeeping compare to working in both years are 32% and 25% .

In contrast, In 1958, going out with friends and family are 19% followed by the relaxing at home 8% and the least share is mere 2%. On the other hand, relaxing at home made up13% by the adults. playing sports and going out with friends and family are equally same that is 7%. The smallest proportion is constitued 6% which is for the activity of going out with family and friends.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main categories and report several accurate figures, including working rising from 33% to 42%, sleeping falling from 32% to 25%, and relaxing at home increasing from 8% to 13%. However, the overview is not fully accurate: travelling to work is the smallest category in 1958, but in 2008 it is tied with playing sports at 7%, while going out with friends and family is 6%. The final sentence then calls this 6% figure the smallest, despite earlier describing the 7% categories as the smallest. The comparison of the two years is also incomplete, particularly for travel and socialising. Select the key changes and state them clearly in the overview and body.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate discussion of the main figures. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, progression is uneven: the overview’s claim about the smallest categories is unclear, and the final paragraph moves between 1958 and 2008 without consistently signalling the comparison. Connectors such as “In contrast” and “On the other hand” are used, but they do not always express a clear contrast; the latter introduces more 2008 figures rather than a direct opposing point. Some information is repeated, especially the claim about the smallest proportion. Grouping the figures by change or by year, and using clearer references, would make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing charts, including “proportion,” “category,” “accounted for,” and “made up,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “the day spend,” “the adult spent,” and “equally same.” These expressions make parts of the report awkward to interpret. There are also spelling errors, including “prportion,” “sleeeping,” and “constitued,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural chart language and check spelling carefully. For example, use “share of the day” rather than “day spend,” and “equal” rather than “equally same.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the main figures can usually be understood. However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “working accounted for largest proportion” is missing an article, while “Looking at the working category which is accounted for…” is an incomplete and awkwardly formed sentence. Agreement is also inconsistent in “going out … are 19%,” and the sentence comparing sleeping with working lacks a clear grammatical structure. Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, as in “In contrast, In 1958” and the missing space in “made up13%.” Practise complete, controlled sentences with accurate articles, agreement and punctuation before attempting longer comparisons.

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

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