Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-12

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 5.0)

The given pie chart illustrates that how working adults spent their time in a particular country in 1958 and 2008.

In 1958 the working percentage is on top of list on the other hand travelling to work is at last. While, In 2008 we saw a increase in working percentage and Playing sports were at the end.

In 1958, Working percentage is at top of the list and the percentage is 33.The Sleeping activities were at 32 percentage. They do 19 percent of activities with their family or friends. They only relax 8 percent at their home. And the sport activities were at 7 percent. At last they only used to travel 2 percent to go to work.

In 2008, Working activities have been increased and reached to 42 percent. The sleeping activities were at 2nf of the list and the percentage is 25.They used to relax 13 percent at their homes. The percentage of sport and travelling are same at 7 percent. At last they do 6 percent of activities with their family.

By contrast, In 1958 the working activities are on top of list while the other activities are with less percentage and they do only 2 percent of travel. In 2008 they do 42 percent of activities and they give less time to their family with 6 percentage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to cover the main features of the two pie charts comparing working adults' time allocation in 1958 and 2008. The student successfully identifies key data points such as working hours rising to 42 percent and sleeping decreasing to 25 percent. However, the overview is missing, and the data reporting is somewhat repetitive and mechanically structured without a clear holistic comparison. Some data descriptions are slightly imprecise or awkward, such as 'travelling to work is at last' and treating leisure and family time with inconsistent categorisation. According to Band 5 descriptors, the task is addressed only partially, and the lack of a proper overview prevents it from reaching Band 6. The ideas are limited and under-developed, relying heavily on isolated figures rather than synthesized trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows a basic attempt to structure the information chronologically, dedicating separate paragraphs to 1958 and 2008, plus an concluding comparative paragraph. However, the logical progression is weak and lacks cohesive devices between sentences. Phrases like 'At last' and 'In 1958, Working percentage is at top' demonstrate repetitive and mechanical structuring. Furthermore, referencing is sometimes unclear, and the paragraphing does not flow smoothly. There is no clear overview paragraph to guide the reader through the main trends. This fits the Band 5 descriptor, which notes some organisation but no clear overall progression, alongside inadequate or repetitive cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student uses a very limited and repetitive vocabulary set, constantly repeating phrases like 'working percentage', 'sleeping activities', 'sport activities', and 'at the top of the list'. Words are often misused or combined unnaturally, such as 'travelling to work is at last' and 'They only relax 8 percent at their home'. There is little attempt at less common lexical items, and word choices are generally basic and imprecise. Spelling and word formation are mostly fine, but the narrow range and frequent awkward collocations restrict the score to Band 5, matching the descriptor for a limited, minimally adequate range with noticeable errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response features a limited range of sentence structures, primarily consisting of simple sentences and basic subject-verb constructions ('In 1958, Working percentage is at top...'). The writer attempts some complex structures, but these often contain awkward phrasing or grammatical errors, such as 'The given pie chart illustrates that how working adults spent their time' and 'The percentage of sport and travelling are same'. Punctuation is occasionally erratic, and tense usage shifts awkwardly between past descriptions and present tense commentary ('we saw a increase', 'have been increased'). Frequent errors and limited control place this response firmly at Band 5.

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

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