Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-07-29
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 chart describes how working professionals spent their time considering a particular country in the year 1958 and 2008.
overall, we can observer that activities includes out going with family and friends, travelling to work, sleeping , relaxing at home, and working , in this entire pie chart sleeping and workings weights more .
In the year 1958, the chart shows that working individuals spending their most of their time working , due to the fact it shows arounds a third of their entire day, in addition the second most time spent in the activity called sleeping which is a third , followed by going out with friends and family is about 19 % which is a moderate percent they spent with them and travelling which is about 2% that is the least time spent activity that we can observe , the final activity which is relaxing at home which is only 8% compared to the activity travelling activity that they spent in their entire day.
In the year 2008, the chart makes a lot changes in their activity, it shows working takes a lot of time that adults spent their time that is 42% , while playing sports , followed by travelling to works stands the same percent that is 7% , moreover going out with friends and family the time spent is 6% finally, relacing at home is only 13 % it changed a lot more compared to 1958.
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 identifies the main features of the charts, such as the dominance of working and sleeping, and makes some comparisons. However, the analysis is inconsistent. For instance, the 2008 data is described as having 'a lot changes,' but the specific figures provided for 2008 are confusing or inaccurate (e.g., mentioning 'playing sports' which is not in the prompt, and misstating the percentage for working). The overview is also quite weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately transcribed and that the overview highlights the most striking shifts between the two years.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as the repetitive use of 'in addition' and 'moreover' to link clauses that do not logically follow. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between 1958 and 2008 data is abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear focus would significantly enhance the flow of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'the activity called sleeping' and 'the activity that they spent in their entire day' are wordy and unnatural. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'weights more' instead of 'accounts for the largest share' and 'makes a lot changes' instead of 'shows significant changes.' While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, it lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. Focusing on using more academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('activities includes,' 'workings weights'), incorrect pluralisation ('arounds a third'), and punctuation errors. Sentence construction is often awkward, leading to run-on sentences that lack clarity. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar limits the score. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and ensuring that sentences are correctly punctuated to avoid run-on structures.
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