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 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. The proportion for working remained highest, However the time spent with friends and family was 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 32% and 19% spent on 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 on 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

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the data and made relevant comparisons between the two years. You included all categories and highlighted key trends, such as the increase in working hours and the shift in leisure activities. However, the response is slightly hampered by some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that the time spent on 'friends and family' was 19% in 1958, but the chart indicates 22%. Additionally, the claim that 'travelling to work' increased by 5% is mathematically inconsistent with the provided data (2% to 7%). To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are transcribed with absolute precision and that calculations are verified against the visual information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall', 'In 1958', and 'In 2008', to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions are awkward. For example, the sentence 'The proportion for working remained highest, However the time spent with friends and family was the least' uses a comma splice and an unnecessary capitalization of 'However'. Furthermore, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as when you mention 'The same figure at 7%' without clearly linking it to the two distinct categories being compared. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrate', 'accounted for', and 'proportion'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors. For example, 'the percentages of the day spent for working was highest' should be 'the percentage of the day spent working was the highest'. You also use 'accounted least' and 'the most of the time', which are grammatically and stylistically unnatural. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Common issues include incorrect preposition usage (e.g., 'spent for working' instead of 'spent working'), subject-verb agreement errors, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'the least time spent for travelling to work at 2%'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the misuse of commas and capitalization. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb forms.

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

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