Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The given pie chart illustrates the time spent by adults on work in a particular nation in the year of 1958 and after ten years.
Overall , it is evident from the given chart that most adults spend a majority of its time on working rather than spending on other activities.
In 1958, adults spent almost more than a fifth on going out with friends or passing time with the family members. However, individuals spent 33% of its time on working with 8% on staying or relaxing at home. Other 32% of time were given to sleeping hours and 2% to travelling to work . Remaining hours were spent on playing sports by men and women.
In 2008, time spent by adults with friends or family were 6%. Moreover, similar percentage of hours were given to playing sports and travelling that were 7%. A majority of time were used for working as it was figured 42%. Likewise, adults spent a quarter of its time for sleeping and 13% for staying or relaxing at home.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the charts, but there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that in 1958, 33% of time was spent on working, whereas the chart shows 33% for sleeping. Additionally, the introductory sentence mentions 'after ten years' instead of 2008, which is a major factual error. While you attempt to compare the two years, the lack of precision in data extraction and the misinterpretation of the time period significantly hinder the task achievement. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the labels with the corresponding segments of the pie charts before writing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or misused. For example, 'Other 32% of time were given to...' is an awkward way to introduce new information. The transition between the two years is clear, but the internal flow within paragraphs is occasionally disrupted by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'In contrast', 'Conversely', 'Furthermore') and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'its time') is consistent and accurate.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'passing time' and 'staying or relaxing at home'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'figured 42%' and 'time spent... were 6%'. These errors occasionally make the text sound unnatural. To improve, try to incorporate more specific academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'accounted for', 'constituted', or 'a significant proportion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'time spent... were 6%' and 'a majority of time were used'. Additionally, there are errors with articles and pronouns, such as 'in the year of 1958' and 'spent a quarter of its time'. These errors are noticeable and sometimes distract the reader, although they do not completely impede communication. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and pluralisation will significantly improve the clarity of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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