Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-05
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 6.0)
The pie charts illustrates percentage of working adults doing various activities in 1958 and 2008.
Overall, adults spent more time working and sleeping. However, spending time on other activities such as relaxing at home, going out with friends or family, travelling to work and playing sports are different in 1958 and 2008.
Working has the highest percentage having 33% in 1958 and 42% in 2008. Sleeping has the second highest in both years having 32% in 1958 and 25% in 2008.
In 1958, working adults spend their free time hanging out with family or friends more than with working adults in 2008. While the adults in 2008 preferred to relax at home more with a percentage of 13% and adults in 1958 with just 8%. Playing sports had a steady 7% in both years while travelling employed adults spend more time travelling to work at 7% than adults in 1958 who only spent 2%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the pie charts and makes relevant comparisons between the two years. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it mentions that time spent on activities is 'different' without clearly highlighting the most significant trends, such as the increase in working hours or the decrease in sleep. While the data is generally accurate, the description of the 'free time' category is slightly imprecise as it groups several distinct activities together. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview synthesizes the data more effectively by identifying the most striking shifts rather than just stating that changes occurred.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific data points. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'However', and 'While', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the discussion of work/sleep and the other activities is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication of the data. Phrases like 'steady 7%' and 'highest percentage' are functional. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are minor issues with word choice, such as 'travelling employed adults', which is slightly awkward. To improve, you should incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to data trends, such as 'accounted for', 'experienced a decline', or 'remained constant'. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' will also help demonstrate a higher level of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The pie charts illustrates') and tense inconsistencies ('working adults spend' vs 'adults in 1958 who only spent'). Additionally, some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'Working has the highest percentage having 33%'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the information, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. Focusing on consistent tense usage and refining sentence structure will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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