Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-10

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 5.0)

The pie charts shows the breakdown of the day spent by working adults on various activities in a particular country in 1958 and 2008.

Apparently, a significant difference can be seen among various activities in working adults adults including going out with family or friends, travelling to work, sleeping, relaxing at home and playing sports. Therefore, percentage of working hours are relatively higher in 1958 among adults in 2008 than in 2008. In contrast, going out with family or friends is lower in 2008 is lower than 1958.

Working hours were higher with 42% in 2008 while in 1958 the percentage was 33%. Time spent on going out with family or friends was lower in 2008, realtively higher in 1958 about 19%. Although, playing sports was same in both years at 7%. Time to travel to work shows a little difference of 7% in 2008 and 2% in 1958. Whereas, sleeping shows a noticeable difference of 25% in 2008 and the percentage in 1958 is quite higher at 32%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several important comparisons, including the rise in working time from 33% to 42%, the fall in socialising from 19% to 6%, and the changes in sleeping and commuting. However, the overview is unclear and includes a contradictory statement: “percentage of working hours are relatively higher in 1958 … than in 2008,” despite the figures showing the reverse. You also report that sports was 7% in both years, but the chart shows sports only in 2008; relaxing at home is 8% in 1958 and 13% in 2008, yet this change is not described. A clearer overview of the main shifts, with accurate coverage of the categories, would make the response more complete and better supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction to a general comparison and then to figures, so the reader can identify the topic. However, progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph lists categories without establishing a reliable overview, and the final paragraph moves through figures in a somewhat repetitive sequence. Linking words such as “Therefore,” “In contrast,” “Although,” and “Whereas” are attempted, but some are used inaccurately or leave sentence relationships unclear. For example, “Although, playing sports was same in both years” does not connect smoothly to the preceding comparison. Grouping increases together and decreases together, and using simpler, more accurate transitions, would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing charts, including “breakdown,” “percentage,” “noticeable difference,” and “time spent,” and the meaning is generally recoverable. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate or repetitive. “Working hours” is less precise than “the proportion of the day spent working,” while “a little difference” does not naturally describe the change from 2% to 7%. There are also spelling and word-choice slips, such as “realtively,” and repeated use of “lower” and “higher.” Aim for precise chart language and accurate collocations, such as “increased,” “declined,” and “accounted for.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, but errors are frequent enough to make some relationships difficult to follow. The opening has subject–verb disagreement: “The pie charts shows”; the phrase “working adults adults” also contains an unintended repetition. In “percentage of working hours are relatively higher,” the singular subject does not agree with “are,” and the comparison is structurally confusing. Other examples include “playing sports was same” and the incomplete construction “Although, playing sports was same in both years at 7%.” Use a wider range of sentence patterns with careful control of agreement, articles, and clause links. Proofreading each sentence for a clear subject and verb would help.

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