Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-13
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 pie chart depicts the percentages of various tasks (outing, travelling, playing, working, sleeping, relaxing) performed on daily basis by mature people in the year of 1958 and 2008.
Overall, percentage of working module surged in both the years, similarly, sleeping percentage marked on second number in 1958 and 2008. On the other hand, Travelling was least performed by adults in 1958 while, going out with family and friends remained lowest in 2008. Relaxing at home stayed on moderate level in both years
The number of people performing work showed peak value of 33% and 42% in the year 1958 and 2008 respectively. Sleeping was recorded as second surged activity with percentage of 32% and 25% for the year 1958 and 2008 respectively. Traveling to work was recorded with least number of 2% in 1958 while, going out with friends was at minimum of 6% in 2008
Concurrently, relaxing at home remained on moderate level of 8% in 1958 and 13% in 2008. Playing sports in both the year 1958 and 2008 was preferred less with the percentage of almost 7%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making comparisons between the two years, 1958 and 2008. The student highlights key data points accurately, such as work increasing from 33% to 42% and sleeping decreasing from 32% to 25%. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, which outlines the general trends successfully. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in expression, such as referring to 'working module' instead of 'category' or 'activity', and some data descriptions could be more fully developed or contextualised. Overall, the response addresses the prompt well, earning a solid Band 6.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into clear paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by an overview, and then detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader, such as 'Overall', 'On the other hand', and 'Concurrently'. However, referencing and transitions are at times slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent reliance on 'for the year 1958 and 2008 respectively'. Paragraphing is logical, but the internal progression within paragraphs could be smoother to achieve a higher band. Overall arrangement is coherent, fitting the Band 6.0 descriptor well.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'surged', 'peak value', and 'moderate level'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'working module' instead of 'working category' and 'second surged activity' instead of 'the second largest activity'. Spelling and word formation are generally clear, but the lexical control is somewhat limited and occasionally unnatural, placing the response securely in the Band 6.0 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating introductory clauses and comparative structures. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'percentage of working module surged in both the years', 'marked on second number', and 'Playing sports in both the year 1958 and 2008 was preferred less'. Punctuation is also missing in several places, notably at the end of sentences. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the score from reaching a Band 6.5, making Band 6.0 appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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