Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-02

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)

This pie chart illustrates the porportion of time spent by the employees in a country between 1958 to 2008. Overall, it clearly shows that from then to now, after the working hours, sleeping holds the most percentage. In addition, travel holds the lower portion in 1958, but in 2008, the other activities included and now family time is at the lowest portion.

In 1958, the most activity which holds the largest portion was working, which contributes at 33%, afterthat, sleeping was also at the same but a little bit lower at 32%. Moreover, family time contribute at 19% than relaxation at home was around 8% and in the lowest portion was the time which were used to travel from home to office.

On the other hand, Working shares 42% and sleeping again at the second most activity at 25% in 2008. While, relaxation time increases from 8% to 13%. Now, playing sports add on it and travel for office both contributes the 7% and at the least, family time placed at 6%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main parts of the task by reporting key data from both pie charts, such as the percentages for working, sleeping, and family time. However, some parts are only partially covered or lack sufficient extension. For example, the overview mentions general trends like sleeping holding the most percentage and family time dropping to the lowest, but it is somewhat vague and misses a precise summary of the overall shift in time allocation. In the body paragraphs, certain details are under-developed or inaccurately described, such as claiming that 'sleeping was also at the same' as working in 1958 when the figures are actually 33% and 32%. While relevant ideas are presented, the development and selection of features remain somewhat limited, preventing a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt to structure the essay into an introduction and two body paragraphs representing the two years. Information and ideas are generally linked, though cohesive devices are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For instance, transitional phrases like 'afterthat', 'Moreover', and 'While, relaxation time increases' are used awkwardly or with incorrect punctuation. Paragraphing is present and separates the years logically, but referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the abrupt introduction of new categories in the final paragraph without smooth integration. The progression of ideas can feel disjointed at times, characteristic of this level.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used provides an adequate range for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic comparisons and data points. However, there are noticeable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice, spelling, and word form. For example, 'porportion' is misspelled, 'travel holds the lower portion' is an unnatural collocation, and phrases like 'the most activity which holds the largest portion' are repetitive and clumsy. The student attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'contributes' and 'relaxation', but these attempts are often marred by inappropriate grammatical patterns or minor lexical slips that occasionally cause slight difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The text displays a limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside some attempts at complex forms that are often faulty. There are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, including missing articles ('in lowest portion was the time'), incorrect prepositional usage ('contribute at'), awkward relative clauses ('the time which were used'), and comma splices ('While, relaxation time increases'). While the meaning is generally decipherable, these frequent errors require the reader to decode the sentences and can cause occasional difficulty, keeping the grammar score at this level.

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

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