Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-10

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 6.5)

The pie charts show how working adults in a particular country spent their time in one day in 1958 and 2008.

Overall, in 1958, most adults spent their time sleeping and working. However, in 2008, the time for working and sleeping became lower, while leisure activities and travelling increased.

In 1958, sleeping was the biggest activity, which was 32%. Working was also a major activity at 33%. People spent only 6% of their day on other activities. Leisure time was 19%, while travelling was just 2%.

In 2008, working decreased to 24% and sleeping also went down to 25%. On the other hand, leisure activities increased significantly to 34%. Travelling also increased from 2% to 8%. The percentage for other activities was 9%.

In conclusion, working adults spent less time on sleeping and working in 2008. In contrast, they spent more time on leisure activities and travelling than they did in 1958.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have identified the main features, such as the decline in working and sleeping hours and the rise in leisure and travel. The data is accurately reported, and the comparison between 1958 and 2008 is clear. To reach a higher band, ensure that you synthesize the data more effectively rather than listing figures for each category. For example, grouping the categories that increased versus those that decreased would provide a more analytical overview. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt comprehensively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'On the other hand', and 'In contrast' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two time periods. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases further to avoid a slightly mechanical feel, and ensure that the transition between the overview and the specific data points is as seamless as possible.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'major activity', 'decreased significantly', and 'in contrast'. The meaning is consistently clear. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive (e.g., using 'increased' and 'decreased' multiple times). To achieve a higher score, incorporate more varied synonyms such as 'plummeted', 'surged', 'witnessed a rise', or 'remained stable'. Using more precise collocations would also enhance the sophistication of your writing and demonstrate a wider lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your grammar is generally accurate, which ensures that the message is conveyed clearly. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as relative clauses or participle phrases (e.g., 'Having decreased from 33% to 24%, working time...'). This would demonstrate greater control and flexibility in your writing.

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

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