Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-24

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 data presents how working individuals in a main country used their time in different activities from 1958 to 2008.

In both years highest porportion of time adults used in working.

In 1958 adults 33 percent of their time spent on working and 32 percent in sleeping. The people spent 19 percent of time to going out with friends and family and the 8 percent of time adults spent on relaxing at home.The lowest porportion of time people spent on travelling for work which is 2 percent.

In 2008 highest amount of time adults spent on working which is 42 percent and the 25 percent of time use for sleeping. The 13 percent of time used for relaxing at home. The 7 percent of time spent on travelling to work and for playing sports.The lowest amount of time spent on going out with freinds and family which is 7 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses the main features of the two pie charts, comparing working adults' time allocation in 1958 and 2008. The student identifies key trends, such as the increase in working hours from 33% to 42% and the decrease in sleeping hours from 32% to 25%. An overview is attempted, although it is somewhat basic. All figures cited are largely accurate according to the source data, with a minor slip in the concluding sentence where 'going out with friends and family' in 2008 is incorrectly stated as 7% instead of 6% (though playing sports was 7%). Overall, the task is adequately addressed, placing it at Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement, with a clear introduction followed by separate body paragraphs for 1958 and 2008. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped, and sentences are often linked repetitively without a full range of cohesive devices (relying heavily on simple subject-verb constructions like 'The student spent...' or 'The 13 percent of time...'). Referencing is sometimes unclear, and there is a lack of advanced cohesive ties to guide the reader smoothly between contrasting points. Progression is visible but mechanical. This corresponds to a Band 5.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The lexical range is limited and repetitive, repeatedly using basic verbs and nouns such as 'time', 'spent', and 'percentage'. There are noticeable spelling and word choice errors, including 'porportion' instead of 'proportion' and 'freinds' instead of 'friends'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success ('highest porportion', 'travelling for work'), and word forms are occasionally awkward. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey the basic meaning of the charts, the persistent errors and lack of flexibility restrict the score to a Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying almost entirely on simple sentences with frequent missing articles ('highest porportion', 'in sleeping', 'on travelling for work'). There are also missing verbs in key clauses, such as 'The data presents how working individuals... used their time' where prepositions or clause structures are awkward. Complex structures are rare and often faulty. Errors in grammar and punctuation are frequent, occasionally causing strain for the reader, which aligns with a Band 5.0.

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

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