Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-13

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 charts illustrate the percentages of time spent by working adults on various activities in 1958 and 2008. Overall, it reveals the interests and preferences of professionals in two different years.

To begin with, it can be seen that only 19% of the working citizens spent time hanging out with friends and family in 1958 whereas this figure fell to 6% in 2008. However, only 2% and 7% of individuals with job travelled to work in the year 1958 and 2008 respectively. People in 1958 spent 32% of the day while sleeping, it then declined to 25%.

Furthermore, in 1958 workforce was preferred to relax at home by the proportion of 8% of the day but later, this trend increased to 13%. In addition to this, society spent 42% and 33% throughout the day in working in the year 2008 and 1958 respectively. The figure for playing games stood at 6%, later in rose to 7%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You report several relevant comparisons accurately, including the fall in socialising from 19% to 6%, the rise in working from 33% to 42%, and the decline in sleeping from 32% to 25%. However, the overview is vague: saying the charts reveal “interests and preferences” does not identify the main changes, such as work becoming the largest category while socialising fell sharply. There is also a factual error: the 1958 chart has no sports category, and the 2008 figure for playing sports is 7%, not 6%; the 6% belongs to socialising. The response covers most categories but does not clearly prioritise the key features, and some comparisons are presented without a strong overall summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence, beginning with an introduction and then comparing categories across the two years. Linking expressions such as “However,” “Furthermore,” and “In addition to this” help connect points. Nevertheless, the progression is somewhat mechanical, and the paragraphing does not clearly separate an overview from detailed comparisons. The opening overview is too general to guide the reader, while the final sentence introduces sports without a clear transition and contains a confusing comparison. Grouping the major increases and decreases, then using clear references such as “this proportion” or “the corresponding figure,” would make the information easier to follow and reduce abrupt shifts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of terms for describing the charts, including “percentages,” “declined,” “increased,” and “proportion.” However, some choices are imprecise or unnatural for an academic report. “Interests and preferences” is not a precise description of what the charts measure, and “hanging out” is informal; “socialising” would be more suitable. Phrases such as “working citizens,” “individuals with job,” and “workforce was preferred to relax” are awkward or unclear. “Playing games” also changes the chart’s label, which is “playing sports.” Aim for accurate, neutral activity labels and natural collocations, rather than using varied wording that alters or obscures the meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including comparisons with “whereas” and “but,” and most of the intended meaning can be understood. However, control is uneven, particularly in longer or more complex sentences. For example, “People in 1958 spent 32% of the day while sleeping, it then declined to 25%” joins two independent clauses with only a comma; use a full stop or a conjunction. “In 1958 workforce was preferred to relax at home” has an unclear grammatical construction, and “later in rose to 7%” contains an incorrect pronoun. There are also awkward article and preposition patterns. Build comparisons with a clear subject and verb, and check each sentence for complete clauses and accurate reference.

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

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