Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-06
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 illustrates the time percentage comparative distribution of different activties performed by youth in year 1958 and 2008.
To start with working hours portion, for 2008 it has been increased upto 42% in comparision to 33% previously in 1958. Moreover, in 2008, 13% of the working adults likes to relax at home than 8% in 1958. The sleep duration reduced in 2008 to 25% that was 32% in past.
Additionally, in 2008 travelling to work constitues 7% of total while for 1956 this constituin was just 2%, Furthermore, spending time with family and freinds holds 19% share of time spending but for 2008 it reduced to just 6%. Lastly, outdoor activities such as playing sports remained nearly same of 7% for both years 1958 and 2008 respectively.
In conclusion, these pie charts outlines the variety of tasks perfomed by youth on daily basis and thier respective time distribution,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the two pie charts, noting changes in working hours, relaxing, sleeping, travelling, and socializing between 1958 and 2008. However, the task is addressed only partially because the writer misinterprets the target demographic, referring to 'youth' instead of 'working adults'. Furthermore, the data description lacks an overview statement, which is essential for a higher band. While some key comparisons are made, such as working hours increasing from 33% to 42% and sleeping decreasing from 32% to 25%, the overall selection of information feels mechanical and misses a cohesive summary of the broader shifts in time allocation.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
There is some basic organisation evident through the use of transition phrases such as 'To start with', 'Additionally', and 'In conclusion'. However, there is no clear overall progression, and the logical flow is hampered by awkward phrasing and mechanical links. Paragraphing is attempted, with an introduction, body, and conclusion, but the referencing is not always clear, leading to a choppy structure. Cohesive devices are sometimes inaccurate or over-used rather than naturally integrated into the text, which prevents the essay from achieving a smooth and logical development of ideas.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey the basic message of the charts. There are noticeable lexical errors, such as 'activties' (spelling), 'comparision' (spelling), 'constituin' (word form/spelling), and 'freinds' (spelling). The writer attempts some less common vocabulary items such as 'comparative distribution', 'constitues', and 'outdoor activities', but these are often marred by inaccuracies in word choice or collocation. These errors require the reader to occasionally pause, though communication is generally maintained.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response features a limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple and repetitive sentence forms. Attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty, such as in the clause 'that was 32% in past' or 'while for 1956 this constituin was just 2%' (referring to the wrong year). There are frequent errors in verb forms, prepositions, articles, and agreement, such as 'adults likes to relax', 'remained nearly same of', and punctuation errors in the final sentence. These frequent errors cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect a weak control of grammatical mechanics.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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