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 chart depicts the proportions of, how the employed adults in a specific country spent their time in 1958 and 2008.

Overall, the working hours has been increased marginally, while outings with friends and family has been decreased dramatically in 2008, and the new activity has been included in 2008

Firstly, the majority of time accounted for 33% spent on work in 1958, which increased by 9% by 2008. Secondly, the proportions of sleeping and going out with friends and family stood up at 32% and 19% in 1958 and 2008 respectively.

Furthermore, the 8% of time was spent for taking rest at home in 1958, which increased at 13% in 2008, similarly the time for taking tours for work was increased from 2% to 7% by 2008.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of the task. While you have identified some key features, the analysis is incomplete. For instance, you mention a 'new activity' in 2008 but fail to name it or provide its percentage. The comparison between 1958 and 2008 is also limited, and some data points are misreported or unclear. To improve, ensure you cover all categories shown in the charts and provide a more detailed overview that synthesises the data rather than just listing percentages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Furthermore'). The progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the summary of trends is confusing. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus that flows logically into the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary range is adequate for the task but lacks precision. Phrases like 'stood up at' are incorrect collocations for describing data. You rely on basic verbs such as 'increased' and 'decreased' repeatedly. To improve, incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'rose significantly', 'experienced a decline', or 'remained stable'. Additionally, ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the report. For example, 'the working hours has been increased' should be 'working hours have increased' (subject-verb agreement). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'increased at 13%' instead of 'increased to 13%'. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement before attempting more complex grammatical forms.

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

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