Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-01
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The graph below gives information on the numbers of participants for different activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia for the period 2000 to 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 8.5)
The line graph illustrates the number of people who participated in five different activities at a social centre in Melbourne between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, the film club remained the most popular activity throughout the period, while musical performance had the fewest participants at the beginning. Table tennis experienced the most significant increase in participation, whereas amateur arts showed a substantial decline over the 20-year period.
In 2000, the film club attracted approximately 65 participants, making it the most popular activity. This figure remained relatively stable, ending at around 69 in 2020. Participation in martial arts stood at about 35 people at the start of the period. Although the number fluctuated over the years, it eventually returned to roughly the same level by the end of the period.
By contrast, amateur arts began with around 25 participants but declined steadily to only 5 in 2020, making it the least popular activity by the end of the period. Table tennis, on the other hand, started with approximately 15 participants and experienced a dramatic increase, reaching about 65 by 2020. Meanwhile, musical performance had only one participant in 2000, but the figure gradually rose to around 20 participants at the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and selected key data points to illustrate the changes over the 20-year period. The comparison between activities is well-integrated, such as noting that the film club remained the most popular while amateur arts saw a significant decline. The data is accurate and supports the summary well. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant 'turning points' or notable intersections in the data, though your current selection is already very strong and covers the requirements of the prompt comprehensively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. You have used a good range of cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'whereas', and 'on the other hand' to link ideas and contrast trends effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. The referencing is clear, and the structure allows the reader to follow the comparison of the five activities without confusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'remained relatively stable', 'experienced a dramatic increase', and 'declined steadily' are well-chosen and appropriate for an academic report. You avoid repetition and use a variety of verbs and adverbs to describe trends. The vocabulary is natural and fits the context of the task perfectly. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to meet the requirements for a high band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while musical performance had the fewest participants', 'although the number fluctuated'). The grammar is highly accurate, with very few, if any, errors. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and list items. The control over tense usage is consistent, correctly reflecting the past time frame of the data. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the overall grammatical control is strong throughout the text.
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