Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-14
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 elucidate the difference between the proportion of time spent in different things by adults in a specific country in the year 1958 and 2008. Overall there are types of colours denoted to daily work of a normal earning person. It is seen that the majority of the time in both the charts is spent in working and least in travelling to workplace.
In the year 1958 the sleeping schedule was covering almost a third part of the area meanwhile going out with friends and family constitutes up to 19 percent and rest playing a game or sport is less than 7 percent.
However, by taking a look at 2008 graph, quality time with friends and family got reduced to 6 percent as compared to prior one and opting for sports and transport contributes equally of around one tenth of the day. Relaxing at home significantly covers less than sleeping but greater than other factors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarize the data but fails to provide a clear, accurate overview. While it identifies the main categories, the description of the data is imprecise. For instance, stating that 'the majority of the time... is spent in working' is factually incorrect based on standard interpretations of such charts, where sleep usually dominates. Furthermore, the comparison between 1958 and 2008 is vague, using phrases like 'prior one' rather than specific data points. To improve, you must ensure that the figures cited are accurate and that the key trends (such as the shift in leisure time or work hours) are clearly highlighted with supporting data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is a standard structure. However, the logical progression is weak. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the use of cohesive devices is mechanical or misused, such as 'meanwhile' and 'however' which do not always connect the ideas logically. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the two years. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and occasionally imprecise. Phrases like 'different things' and 'types of colours denoted to daily work' are unnatural and lack the academic tone required for Task 1. There is an attempt to use some descriptive language, but it often results in awkward collocations. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion,' 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' or 'accounted for,' rather than generic phrasing. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you describe the charts with greater clarity and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'there are types of colours denoted to daily work' and 'the sleeping schedule was covering almost a third part of the area.' There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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