Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-06

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 illustration gives information about the percentage of the day spent by working adults on various activities in between 1958 and 2008. overall, in 2008 there was much working adults as compare to 1958

It is quite evident form the pie chart that in year 1958 there were 33% of adults who was working and 32 percent of adults who was sleeping. there are 19% who going out with friends and family. in 1958 only 2 percent of people who was traveling for work and 8% adults who was relaxing at home.

Meanwhile, In 2008 there were 42 percent adults who was working and only 25 percent are sleeping. only 6 percent of people who was going out with there family and friends. in contras to 1958 there are five percent more adults who travelling to work and also 13 percent people who was relaxing at home and 7 percent adults who playing sports.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the pie charts, such as the increase in working hours and the decrease in sleep. However, the overview is weak; the statement 'there was much working adults as compare to 1958' is grammatically unclear and lacks precision. While the data points are generally accurate, the comparison between the two years is somewhat mechanical, listing percentages rather than synthesizing the information effectively. To improve, ensure the overview highlights the most significant trends (e.g., the shift from leisure to work) rather than just stating there were more adults working.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a Task 1 response. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and often repetitive. Transitions like 'Meanwhile' and 'in contras to' are used, but the flow between sentences is disjointed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the lack of varied linking words makes the progression of ideas feel mechanical. Improving the use of cohesive devices, such as 'whereas,' 'in contrast,' and 'consequently,' would help the ideas flow more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'there were... who was' are used repeatedly, which limits the range of expression. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'in between 1958 and 2008' (which should be 'between 1958 and 2008') and 'in contras to' (in contrast to). The student relies on simple descriptive language, which does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher band score. Expanding the vocabulary to include more precise terms for describing trends and proportions is essential.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'adults who was working', 'there are 19% who going out'). The sentence structures are simple and repetitive, with almost no attempt at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several missing capital letters at the start of sentences. These errors are persistent and occasionally make the meaning slightly difficult to follow. To improve, the student should focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and punctuation before attempting more complex sentence structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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