Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-18

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 bar graph provides information about the percentages of the day spent by working adults on several activities between 1958 and 2008.

Overall, it is clear that working activity was highest ratio which is all fields.while the lowest category was travelling to work in 1958.

It can be seen from pie charts that percentage of the day spent by working adults on working field was about 33% in 1958, then it gradually rose to 42% in 2008. Whereas, ratio of sleeping category showed 32% in 1958, after that it marginally dropped around 29% in 2008.Meanwhile, raito of going out with friends was approximately 19% in the year 1958, and it rapidly declined about 6% in 2008.

In contrast, proportion of relaxing at home was nearly 8% in 1958, and it gradually inclined by 5% in 2008. Althougth, shere of travelling to work was approximately 2% in 1958and than it slightly climed by 5% in 2008.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important comparisons, including the rise in working time from 33% to 42% and the decline in socialising from 19% to 6%. However, the overview is not fully accurate: work was the largest category in 2008, but sleeping (32%) was almost equal to work (33%) in 1958, so it was not the highest in both years. The sleeping figure is also reported as about 29% in 2008, whereas the chart shows 25%. Playing sports, which appears only in 2008 at 7%, is omitted. These gaps and the inaccurate figure mean the main features are only partly covered. Give a precise overview, check each figure, and include the new category.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs comparing activities. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of the changes. However, progression is weakened by the overview’s unclear statement that work was the highest “which is all fields,” and the final paragraph begins with “In contrast” even though it continues listing changes rather than presenting a clear contrast. Some linking words, such as “Whereas” and “Although,” are not used in complete or well-connected structures. Organise the details into clearer comparison groups, and use linking expressions only where the relationship between the figures is explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of chart-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “proportion,” “declined,” and “rose,” and the reader can generally understand the comparisons. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “working activity,” “highest ratio,” and “inclined” for an increase. There are also spelling errors, including “rait[o],” “Althougth,” “shere,” and “climed,” which reduce precision. Repetition of “ratio” and “percentage” also limits flexibility. Use standard collocations for describing charts and check spelling carefully; precise terms such as “share,” “accounted for,” and “increased” would make the report clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “Whereas” and “Meanwhile,” but control is inconsistent. For example, “Whereas, ratio of sleeping category showed 32%” is not a complete, well-formed comparison, and “it marginally dropped around 29%” is missing a clear construction such as “to around.” The sentence beginning “Although” is also left as a fragment, while missing spaces after punctuation and inconsistent commas make several sentences harder to read. Use complete clauses, check articles and prepositions, and punctuate each comparison clearly. More accurate sentence patterns would allow your range to communicate the data reliably.

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

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