Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-21

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)

In 1958, adult spent their time in different range for different activities. First of all, they spent time 19% with family and friends, travelling to work was 2%.In contrast, adults in 2008 spent time with their family and friends only 6% which is less than 1958 and travelling to work is more than 1958 which is 7%.If we compare the time of working in both which is 42% in 2008 and 33% in 1958.Working time of 1958 is less than the time of 2008.The relaxing time of both the adults of 2008 and 1958 is also different which is more in 2008 and is 13%. In 2008, adult also gave time to sports which is 7% in the chart.Sleeping time of both the adults varied which is 32% in 1958 and 25% in 2008.In both years 1958 and 2008 the activities of adults are different and also spend time differently.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report several accurate comparisons, including the rise in working time from 33% to 42%, the fall in sleeping from 32% to 25%, and the changes in travel and socialising. You also correctly note that sports appears in 2008. However, the response mainly lists figures and does not give a clear overview of the most important patterns—for example, that work became the largest activity while time spent with friends and family fell sharply. Relaxing at home is described as “more in 2008” without giving the 1958 figure of 8%, and the final sentence repeats that activities differed rather than summarising the main trends. Select and compare the key features more fully, including all relevant figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response follows a broadly chronological comparison, moving from 1958 to 2008 and covering the main activities, so the reader can identify the general subject. However, it is presented as one continuous block, with no clear overview or paragraph structure to guide the reader. Connections are often repetitive or mechanical: “In contrast,” “If we compare,” and “also different” introduce points without building a clear progression. Some comparisons are crowded together, such as the opening discussion of socialising and travel. Group related changes into paragraphs and use a clear sequence—overview first, then comparisons of increases and decreases—to make the information easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary such as “travelling to work,” “relaxing,” “sports,” and “sleeping,” and the activity labels are generally understandable. However, the range is limited, with repeated use of “time,” “different,” and “adults,” and some phrases are unnatural or imprecise, such as “spent time 19% with family and friends” and “gave time to sports.” These choices can make the comparisons less clear. Use more precise reporting language and collocations, such as “accounted for,” “the proportion of the day,” “rose,” and “fell.” Varying these expressions would help you describe the chart more fluently without changing its meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer comparative sentences, including “If we compare the time of working in both…” and the sentence about sleeping in the two years. However, these structures are often faulty, and most sentences rely on simple patterns. There are recurring errors in agreement and articles: “adult spent” and “adult also gave” should use plural “adults,” while “the time of working” is not formed naturally in this sentence. Punctuation also needs attention: there is no space after the full stop in “2%.In contrast,” and several ideas run together. Practise accurate comparative structures, for example, “Adults spent 42% of their day working in 2008, compared with 33% in 1958.”

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

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