Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-20

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 provide information about the routine of adult in a specific country in 1958 and 2008. Overall, it is apparent that the maximum time spent on working and minimum time spent on travelling in 1958 while in 2008 meeting with friends and family.

Firstly, the working schedule in 1958 was accounted for 33% after that it increase to 42% in 2008 which is significantly higher then others, while the sleeping was at 32% in 1958 which was reduced to 25% in 2008. In addition, the time spend on relaxing at home was accounted for 8% which was improved to 13% in 2008.

Secondly, the time spending with family and friends in 1958 was significantly higher then 2008 which was accounted for 19% and 6% respectively, whereas the time spent on playing sports was remained the same over the timeframe. In contrast, the time spent on travelling to job was 2% in 1958 which was slightly increased to 7% in 2008.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main shift towards working and report several relevant figures accurately, including work rising from 33% to 42%, sleep falling from 32% to 25%, and time with friends and family dropping from 19% to 6%. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: in 2008, working—not meeting friends and family—takes the largest share, while travelling and sports are tied for the smallest at 7%. The statement that sports “remained the same” is unsupported because the chart gives no 1958 sports figure. To strengthen the response, give a clear overview of the largest changes and include the 2008 sports figure without implying a comparison that the data cannot support.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by two paragraphs comparing the figures. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “In contrast” help signal movement between points, and the comparisons are generally easy to follow. However, the overview combines several ideas in a confusing sentence, particularly the claim about the minimum activity in 2008. Some linking phrases are mechanical, and “after that” does not express the comparison as smoothly as a direct contrast would. Grouping related changes more clearly—for example, increases in work, home relaxation and commuting, then decreases in sleep and socialising—would create more consistent progression and clearer connections between details.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing charts, including “accounted for,” “reduced,” “increased,” and “significantly higher,” so the main comparisons can be understood. However, the range is somewhat limited, and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate: “working schedule” does not describe the proportion of the day spent working, “improved” suggests a positive judgement about relaxing time, and “time spending with family and friends” is not a natural phrase here. Repetition of “time spent” and “accounted for” also limits flexibility. Choose neutral, precise expressions such as “the proportion devoted to” or “the share of the day spent on,” and use verbs such as “rose,” “fell,” or “increased” consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including comparisons joined with “while” and “whereas,” and the reader can generally understand the intended trends. Some grammatical errors remain, especially in verb forms and sentence construction. For example, “it increase to 42%” needs a past-tense verb, while “was remained the same” uses an incorrect passive form. The opening overview also lacks a clear grammatical structure around “the maximum time spent on working and minimum time spent on travelling.” Articles and singular/plural forms are sometimes inaccurate, as in “routine of adult.” Practise forming concise comparison sentences with consistent past tense and check subject–verb agreement and article use.

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

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