Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-15

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 demonstrates the difference in proportion of different activities which working adult did in 1958 and 2008.

Overall, the adults spent most of their time in sleeping and working while the other activities also contribute to the day.

Hanging out with family and friends decrease significantly in 2008.

In 1958, adults spent about 33% of their daily time in working which is increase to 42% in 2008. In contrast, the sleep time is decreased from 32% to 25% in this period. Playing sport is a new category in 2008 which contribute 7% in daily hours .

In 1958, only 8% of the day spent on relaxing at home, but in 2008 people were consuming 13% their time in relaxing at home. Contrary, going out with friends and families showed a major reduction from 19% in 1958 to just 6% in 2008. th

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying key trends such as the increase in working hours and the decrease in socialising. However, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the score. While the overview is present, the analysis is somewhat brief and lacks a more detailed comparison of the data points. To improve, ensure all categories are clearly described and that the response meets the minimum length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive development of the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In contrast', 'In 1958', and 'Contrary', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or grammatically awkward, such as 'Contrary, going out...'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the overall structure could be improved by ensuring that each paragraph has a clear focus and that the flow between sentences is more natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'proportion', 'category', and 'reduction' used correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'spent their time in sleeping' (should be 'spent their time sleeping') and 'which is increase to' (should be 'which increased to'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and adverbs would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow, such as 'which working adult did' (should be 'which working adults did'), 'which is increase to' (should be 'which increased to'), and '13% their time' (should be '13% of their time'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequency of these grammatical slips prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will improve your accuracy.

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

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