Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-25
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 circular pair of charts illustrated about the adults in a particular country spent their time in various activities in time of 1958 and 2008. The data has been calibrated into percentage.
Overall, It is crystal clear that in the portion of playing sports had not any significant change. The most noticeable change in going out with friends and family and the adults spent their maximum time in working in both years.
In the year of 1958, made up of biggest portion in working, at 33% which was increase to 42% in later year. Another striking, tripled the figure for travelling to work at 7% and the second largest sector was sleeping in both years but seems a decline in this sector 32% to 25% in last year.
The most dramatic change was seen in the going out with family and friends which is decreased sharply 19% in 1958 to 6% in 2008. overtaking several other sector In contrast, playing sports that had not any big change it remained almost same 6% to 7% by 2008. Relaxing at home was at 8% in beginning year and 13% in last year.
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 1958 and 2008. You successfully identified the key trends, such as the increase in working hours and the decline in time spent going out. However, the report lacks precision in data presentation. For instance, stating 'tripled the figure for travelling to work at 7%' is confusing as the data is not clearly linked to the starting point. Additionally, the overview is somewhat brief and could be more analytical. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are clearly referenced and that the comparison between the two years is more consistently accurate.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. There is a logical progression from an introduction to an overview and then to specific details. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'Another striking, tripled the figure' and 'overtaking several other sector'. These transitions do not flow naturally. Furthermore, some sentences are disjointed, making the relationship between ideas less clear. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'meanwhile') would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, such as 'calibrated', 'noticeable', and 'dramatic'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'circular pair of charts illustrated about' and 'in time of 1958'. The phrase 'made up of biggest portion' is also grammatically and lexically imprecise. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Focusing on accurate collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help improve your score in this area.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The data has been calibrated into percentage' (should be 'percentages'), 'in the portion of playing sports had not any significant change' (missing subject/verb agreement), and 'which is decreased sharply' (incorrect tense). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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