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 pie chart illustrates how employed adults in a specific country used their time in 1958 and 2008.

Overall, they spent their time working, relaxing at home, sleeping, travelling to work, going out with friends and family and playing sports.

In 1958 they spent almost of third of their working which is 33 percent whereas most their was burnt relaxing, sleeping and playing sports, which is 8% ,32% and 6% respectively which adds to 46% overall. 2% of their time was used in travelling to work and the rest if time was given to friends and family which is 19%.

Whereas in 2008 the adults worked more and the percentage increase from 33 to 42 percent but still they spent and considerable time in relaxing for example they 25% of time sleeping and 13% relaxing but you cannot ignore the fact that it decreased. The percentage of going out with friends and family also decreased 13% and dropped to 6%. In contrast travelling time increased from 2% to 7%. The time playing sports almost remained same with just one percent increase in it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully addresses the task by summarising the main features of the pie charts comparing working adults' time use in 1958 and 2008. The student attempts to make relevant comparisons, noting shifts in working, relaxing, and travelling time. However, there are notable flaws in data reporting and mathematical sense-making. For instance, the text claims adults spent 'almost of third of their working which is 33 percent whereas most their was burnt relaxing, sleeping and playing sports, which is 8% ,32% and 6% respectively which adds to 46% overall.' This creates confusion, and the interpretation of percentages is occasionally imprecise or awkwardly calculated. Despite these limitations in detail accuracy and development, all parts of the visual data are touched upon, earning a solid Band 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text demonstrates a basic overall progression, beginning with an introduction, moving to 1958 data, and concluding with 2008 data. However, paragraphing is poorly handled. The body text is lumped together awkwardly, and the second paragraph contains an overwhelming run of numbers and clauses ('which is 8% ,32% and 6% respectively which adds to 46% overall') that makes the logical flow difficult to follow. Cohesive devices are used ('whereas', 'in contrast'), but referencing and linking can be repetitive and mechanical. Furthermore, punctuation errors, such as missing commas or erratic spacing, hinder smooth reading. This level of cohesion and paragraphing aligns well with Band 5.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student attempts some less common vocabulary items and phrases related to time use and percentages, such as 'illustrates', 'employed adults', and 'considerable time'. However, there are frequent inappropriate word choices and collocations, such as 'most their was burnt relaxing' instead of 'spent', and phrasing like 'the rest if time'. Vocabulary is sometimes basic or repetitive, and spelling or phrasing inaccuracies ('almost remained same', 'percentage increase from 33 to 42 percent') create some awkwardness. The lexical range is minimally adequate for the task, but noticeable errors cause occasional strain for the reader, placing it firmly at Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response exhibits a very limited range of structures with frequent grammatical and punctuation errors. There are numerous run-on sentences lacking proper punctuation, such as 'In 1958 they spent almost of third of their working which is 33 percent whereas most their was burnt relaxing, sleeping and playing sports...' Attempts at complex sentences frequently result in faulty syntax, missing prepositions, and verb tense confusion (e.g., 'the percentage increase from 33 to 42 percent but still they spent and considerable time'). Simple structures are generally controlled, but errors are frequent throughout and often cause difficulty for the reader, matching the Band 5.0 criteria.

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

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