Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-16

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 charts given display information about how working adults chose to spend their time in 1958 in comparison to 2008.

Overall, people dedicate the greatest chunk of their time on working, swiftly followed by sleeping. These two components maintain the greatest percentages in both years. However, in 2008, less time is spent going out with friends or family, with a simultaneous rise in the proportion of time spent relaxing at home. Both travelling to work and playing sports have occupied the smallest percentages across both years.

In 1958, 33% of the day was dedicated to working, occupying the greatest chunk in the pie chart. The same is seen in 2008 with a slight rise showing 42% of the day spent on work. In both 1958 and 2008, sleeping has filled the greatest portion of the day after sleeping. In 1958, a third of the day was specialised for sleeping, and that number fell to a fourth of the day in 2008.

In 1958, a greater proportion of the day was spent going out with friends and relatives as opposed to in 2008, when only a fifth of the day was spent on such activities. However, in 2008, the percentage fell sharply to 6%. Rather, more time was designated for relaxing at home in 2008, settling at 13% of the day. Across both charts, playing sports and travelling to work have always occupied the smallest percentages. 2% of the day was spent on transport in 1958, with only a small rise to 7% in 2008.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all key features of the charts and makes relevant comparisons between the two years. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the increase in working hours and the shift in leisure activities. However, there are some inconsistencies in the data reporting. For instance, you state that 'sleeping has filled the greatest portion of the day after sleeping,' which is confusing, and you mention 'a third of the day' for 1958 and 'a fourth' for 2008, which does not align precisely with the typical data for these charts. Ensure that your data points are accurate and clearly presented to avoid confusion. Overall, the summary is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by category. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'However,' 'In both 1958 and 2008,' and 'As opposed to' to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the third paragraph could be more precise to improve the overall cohesion. Nevertheless, the progression of ideas is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'simultaneous rise,' 'designated for,' and 'occupied the smallest percentages' show an attempt to use more sophisticated language. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'specialised for sleeping' and the repetitive use of 'chunk,' which is slightly informal for an Academic Task 1 response. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. The vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'In 1958, a greater proportion of the day was spent going out with friends and relatives as opposed to in 2008.' While there are some minor grammatical slips, such as the awkward phrasing in the third paragraph regarding sleeping, the majority of your sentences are clear and error-free. Punctuation is generally accurate, and your control over complex structures is sufficient to maintain a good level of readability. Further practice with varied sentence starters and more complex clause structures would enhance your score.

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

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