Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-22
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 show the comparison of two time periods between 1958 and 2008. Overall, the changes in activities during these time line is noticeable. Working adults in particular country spent different time in 1958 and 2008. Firstly, sleeping categories is in large ratio and its contrast category relaxing at home varies too. Sleeping part decreased in 2008 by 7%. While, relaxing at home in 1958 was 8% and in 2008 is 13%. There are difference between the working periods. The working ratio raised in 2008 to 42%. Their is a 9% increase in working ratio. Secondly, addition of another activity in 2008 is playing sports. There was no activity of playing sports in 1958 till 2008.Therefore, the ratio of playing sports in 2008 is 7%. Traveling to work ratio increased from 2% to 7% in charts. Going out with friends and family in 1958 was 19% and in 2008 is just 6% that is decreased 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 decrease in social activities. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the most significant shifts. While you have selected relevant data points, the comparison between the two years could be more analytical rather than just listing percentages. For example, grouping the activities into those that increased versus those that decreased would provide a more sophisticated summary. The mention of 'playing sports' as a new activity is a good observation, but ensure that all comparisons are clearly linked to the specific years provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into a logical sequence, but the flow between sentences is often abrupt. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly', but these feel somewhat forced. The paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is presented as a single block of text, which hinders readability. To improve, you should group related ideas into distinct paragraphs—perhaps one for an overview and one for detailed comparisons—and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly rather than relying on simple transitions.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'large ratio' and 'working ratio' are used repeatedly, which limits the range of your expression. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'contrast category' and 'time line'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied terminology to describe trends, such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'significant rise', or 'marked decline'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repeating the same words throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'Their is a 9% increase' should be 'There is', and 'sleeping categories is in large ratio' is grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like 'their/there' will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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