Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-08
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 illustrates the time manage by working adults in a particular country in the year 1958 and 2008.
Overall, In both charts people spend a significant time on their work while less time was spend on travelling to workplace.
In 1998, people spend 33% of the day on their work place whereas this figure rose to 42% in 2008 and only 2% was spend while travelling to work, this figure also increase by 7%. In contrast, spending time with friends and family accounted by 19% in 1998 and this ratio slumped to only 6%in 2008.
Although, Sleeping time was also decreased to 25% in 2008 which was represented as 32% in 1998. Additionally, people spend only 8% while relaxing at home and this figure does not show any drastic increase it only rose to 13% in 2008
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the response identifies some main features, such as the increase in work time and the decrease in social time, the analysis is incomplete. The data interpretation contains inaccuracies, such as stating 1998 instead of 1958, and the description of the trends is somewhat superficial. To improve, ensure all data points are accurately transcribed and provide a more comprehensive comparison of the changes between the two years. The under-length nature of the response prevents a full development of the required information, leading to a lower band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by the brevity and some awkward transitions. While there is an attempt to use cohesive devices like 'In contrast' and 'Additionally', the connection between ideas is sometimes mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the paragraphing is not fully utilized to separate distinct trends effectively. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data comparison. The overall structure is present but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. There is some repetition of basic verbs like 'spend' and 'rose'. Phrases such as 'accounted by' are grammatically incorrect (should be 'accounted for'). The use of 'slumped' is a good attempt at a more descriptive verb, but overall, the lexical range is limited. To improve, incorporate more precise vocabulary for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a significant decline', and ensure correct collocations are used throughout the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with verb tense and form, such as 'time manage' instead of 'time managed', 'was spend' instead of 'was spent', and 'this figure also increase' instead of 'increased'. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage. Proofreading for basic errors like missing articles or incorrect verb forms will help improve the accuracy of your writing significantly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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