Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-09

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)

These diagrams illustrate that where adults of a specific country were passing their time in 1958 and 2008.

Starting from the 1958 most of the adults spent their huge time in working and sleeping, where the figuers are 33% and 32% respectively.The smallest segment is travelling to work where only 2 percent of their time was spent.As compared to 2008 their time in going out with friends and family is marginally high around 19%.

On the other hand, in 2008 there is a gradual rise in the percentage of working from 33% to 42%, and and a fall in proportion of sleeping.Comparing the time spent in relaxing at home got a slight rise from 8% to 13% from 1958 to 2008.

Overall, a number of changes can be observed but the most significant is the variation in working and sleeping, however the time spent in plaing sports remained almost same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several important changes, including the rise in working time from 33% to 42%, the fall in sleeping, and the increase in relaxing at home from 8% to 13%. However, the account only partially covers the chart: it omits the 2008 figures for travelling and socialising, and does not mention that sports appears in 2008 at 7%. The claim that sports “remained almost same” is unsupported because no sports category is shown for 1958. The overview is also vague: “a number of changes” does not clearly summarise the main pattern, and the comparison of socialising is confusing. Give a concise overview of the largest rises and falls, then support it with accurate figures for both years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, a paragraph about 1958, a comparison with 2008, and a concluding overview. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. Some linking is effective, particularly “On the other hand” and “from 1958 to 2008,” but the progression is not consistently clear. For example, “As compared to 2008 their time in going out…” is attached to the 1958 discussion, making the comparison difficult to follow, and the final sentence introduces sports without explaining its relationship to the earlier points. Organise the body around clear comparisons between years, and use references such as “this figure” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “proportion,” “segment,” and “variation,” and the reader can generally understand the activities being compared. However, the range and precision are limited by awkward or inaccurate choices such as “passing their time,” “their huge time,” and “marginally high.” “Gradual rise” is also not the most precise description of a comparison between two years. Spelling errors, including “figuers” and “plaing,” further reduce control. Aim for natural reporting phrases such as “spent time working,” “accounted for,” and “increased from…to…”. Check spelling carefully and choose vocabulary that describes the size and direction of each change accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer comparative sentences, for example, “there is a gradual rise… and a fall in proportion of sleeping.” However, control is uneven, and errors sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. The opening clause, “These diagrams illustrate that where adults…,” is not grammatically well formed; “illustrate how adults spent their time” would be clearer. Other problems include “Starting from the 1958,” the missing article in “in proportion of sleeping,” and the duplicated “and and.” Sentence boundaries and spacing are also inconsistent, as in “respectively.The smallest.” Use a wider range of accurate comparison structures, and proofread articles, clause construction, and punctuation.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.