Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-17
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 illustrate how the working individuals spent their time in 1958 and 2008 in a particular country.
Overall, in 1958 the percentages of the day spent for working was highest, while the travelling for work accounted least percentages. The percentages of working remained highest with minimal increase, However the time spent with friends and family were the least, and a new category added in 2008 was sports.
In 1958, the most of the time from the day spent for working at 33%, while the least time spent for travelling to work at 2%. The percentages of the day spent by working adults for relaxing at home stood at 8%, followed by 19% and 32% spent for sleeping and going out with friends and family.
In 2008, the percentages for the working still remained highest and increased by 9%, and the least time spent for the friends and family at 6%. The figure at 13% accounted for relaxing at home which increased by 6%, and 25% accounted for sleeping which decreased by 7%, over a period of 50 years. The same figure at 7% accounted for playing sports and travelling to work. The time spent on travelling to work increased by 5% in 2008.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts and makes relevant comparisons between the two years. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For example, you state that the time spent with friends and family was 32% in 1958, whereas the chart shows 19%. Similarly, you mention that time spent on travelling increased by 5% in 2008, but the data indicates a change from 2% to 7%, which is a 5 percentage point increase, but your description of the overall trends is sometimes confusing. While you identify the main trends, the lack of precision in data extraction prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the transition 'However, the time spent with friends and family were the least'. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the two years. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer to the intended subjects would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'accounted for', 'illustrate', and 'minimal increase'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'accounted least percentages' and 'the most of the time from the day spent for working'. These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring that your vocabulary is used in a natural, idiomatic way within the context of data description.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'the percentages of the day spent for working was highest' (should be 'were') and 'the least time spent for travelling' (should be 'on'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points. To improve, pay closer attention to verb forms and ensure that your sentences are grammatically consistent throughout the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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