Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-19
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 given pie charts explain how working adults spent their time in 1958 and what the changes occur in 2008.
Overall, the given two pie charts illustrate the ratios of the day spent by working adults on several activities in 1958 and 2008. The maximum activity performed by adults in 1958 was working. On the other hand, working is still maximum activity perform by working adults in 2008 but its ratio increased now from 33% to 42%. The minimum activity performed in 1958 was Travelling to work and in 2008, the least performed activity is going out with family.
In 1958, the maximum activity performed, was Working with 33% of ratio. Its percentage improves in 2008 upto 42% which is still highest ratio.In 1958, almost 8% Adults were relaxing at home but now the percentage increased to 13%. Travelling to work was the least performed activity by the adults in 1958. The ratios of sleeping and Going out with family were 32% and 17% respectively in 1958.
But, in 2008 the percentage of sleeping is slightly reduced to 25%. Playing sports and travelling to work have same ratio of 7% which is definitely higher than 1958. Going out with family is the least performed activity in 2008 and its percentage reduced to 6% from 19% 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, identifying key trends such as the increase in working hours and the shift in leisure activities. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For example, you state that 'Going out with family' reduced to 6% from 19% in 2008, but the chart shows it was 19% in 1958 and 6% in 2008; your phrasing is confusing. Additionally, the statement that 'Playing sports and travelling to work have same ratio of 7%' is inaccurate as the charts show different values. To improve, ensure that data points are transcribed precisely and that comparisons are clearly linked to the correct years.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes mechanical. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'In 1958', but the transition between sentences is occasionally abrupt. The repetition of phrases like 'maximum activity performed' and 'least performed activity' makes the flow feel somewhat repetitive. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and use referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter', 'this figure') to connect ideas more fluidly across sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'maximum activity' and 'ratio'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'what the changes occur' and 'its percentage improves'. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated synonyms for 'increase' (e.g., 'rose', 'climbed', 'surged') and 'decrease' (e.g., 'declined', 'dropped', 'fell'). Using a wider range of descriptive language will help you convey the data more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'what the changes occur in 2008' (incorrect word order/tense), 'working is still maximum activity perform' (missing article and incorrect verb form), and 'have same ratio' (missing article). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. Focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles (a/an/the), and ensuring that verb tenses are consistent when describing past data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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