Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-11

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 6.5)

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

Overall, the proportion allocated for working increased while the percentage of sleeping decreased over the period given. It is also evident that working was allocated the highest proportions in both years.

In 1958, working was allocated 33% of the total proportion making it the most prioritized activity. This was followed by sleeping, going out with friends and relaxing at home each being allocated 32%, 19% and 8% respectively. Travelling to work was given the smallest percentage of only 2%. Closer to that was playing sports with only 6%.

In 2008, the largest proportion was allocated for working at 42%. Closer to that was sleeping and relaxing at home each being allocated 25% and 13% respectively. Both travelling to work and and playing sports were allocated 7% each while while going out with family and friends was the least prioritized with only 6%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the pie charts and provides a clear overview of the main trends. You successfully identified the shift in working hours and the relative importance of different activities. However, the report could be improved by making more direct comparisons between the two years rather than simply listing data for each year separately. For instance, noting that the time spent on 'going out' dropped significantly from 19% to 6% would provide a more analytical approach. The data is generally accurate, though ensure that all comparisons are clearly linked to the specific years to avoid ambiguity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, and you use cohesive devices such as 'In 1958' and 'In 2008' to signal the shift in timeframes. However, the use of linking words is somewhat repetitive, and some transitions between sentences feel mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to vary your cohesive devices and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure effectively guides the reader through the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'allocated', and 'prioritized'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'allocated' and 'proportion'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms such as 'devoted to', 'accounted for', or 'constituted'. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'most prioritized', which is slightly unnatural; 'highest priority' would be more idiomatic. The range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate, there are some minor errors, such as the repetition of 'and' ('and and') and 'while' ('while while') in the final paragraph. These are likely slips but affect the overall polish. You have used some complex structures, but the range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on reducing these minor slips and incorporating a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as relative clauses or participle phrases, to enhance the flow and sophistication of your writing.

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

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