Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-05
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 5.0)
The pie charts represent the time spent by working adults in a specific country percentagewise in 1958 and 2008.
overall, at the beginning of the period working was the most significant area of interest of adults while travelling to work is of least importance. In comparison, at the end of the period working became more significnt and travelling to work and playing sports took less time of adults.
The working adults of 1958 were more obsessed by work but it was increased more by 9 percent in 2008. Relaxing at home and travelling to work was 8 percent and 2 percent respectively and it is increased to 13 percent and 7 percent with the gap of 50 years.
On the other hand, in 1958 adults spent more time with their family and friends by going outside and in sleeping than in 2008. It was decreased by 13 percent and 7 percent respectively in 2008.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. While you identify the most significant changes, the interpretation of the data is occasionally inaccurate. For example, you state that working was 'most significant' in 1958, but the chart shows 'sleeping' as the largest category. Additionally, the phrasing 'more obsessed by work' is subjective and inappropriate for an academic report. To improve, focus on objective reporting of the data and ensure that your comparisons are mathematically accurate based on the provided percentages. The overview is present but could be more clearly defined to highlight the most striking trends across the 50-year period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In comparison', 'On the other hand', and 'at the beginning of the period'. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs feels abrupt. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, avoiding repetitive sentence structures that make the progression feel slightly disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'most significant' and 'less time'. There are also some awkward word choices, such as 'obsessed by work' and 'area of interest', which are not suitable for describing statistical data. Spelling errors, such as 'significnt', also detract from the overall quality. To improve, incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuation', 'dramatic increase', or 'marginal decline', and ensure you proofread for minor spelling slips.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'travelling to work and playing sports took less time of adults') and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'it is increased to 13 percent'). The use of passive voice is attempted but sometimes results in unnatural phrasing. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing historical data. Reducing the frequency of these errors will significantly improve the readability of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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