Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-06
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 5.5)
The line chart provides information about the number of people participating in various activities at one social center in Melbourne, Australia over the period from 2000 to 2020.Overall, it can be seen that table tennis and musical performances attendance significantly increased over the period, While others experienced fluctuations over the time.
Participants show considerable interest in table tennis; the numbers sharply increased from around 15 participants to approximately 20 participants in 2010 and peaked at above 55 participants by 2020.This was followed by Musical performances,started in 2005 from 0 attendance to
just under a quarter by 2020.
By contrast, Film club numbers slightly fluctuated in the middle of the period falling from above 64 to just below 60, then substantially increased to around 67 by 2020. While amateur dramatics attendance continuously dropped from approximately 27 to under 10. Martial arts participation remained stable just over 30, regardless of multiple fluctuations throughout the period. Finally it is clear that film club activity remained at the top compared with other activities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all key features of the graph, including trends and comparisons. You successfully identified the overall trends and highlighted the highest and lowest points. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you mention 'just under a quarter' for musical performances, which is unclear in the context of the graph's units. Additionally, the description of the film club's fluctuation is slightly imprecise. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are clearly linked to the provided figures and that comparisons are more explicitly stated, such as contrasting the growth of table tennis with the decline of amateur dramatics.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a clear overview. You use cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Finally', and 'While' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions between sentences. For example, the transition between the overview and the first body paragraph could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal cohesion within the second paragraph is slightly repetitive. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically on the previous one will help improve the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'significantly increased', and 'remained stable'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'just under a quarter' is not a standard way to describe a numerical value on a graph. Additionally, there are minor issues with spacing and punctuation, such as missing spaces after periods. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends and ensure that your vocabulary is used in the correct context to convey information clearly and accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'While others experienced fluctuations over the time' and 'This was followed by Musical performances, started in 2005'. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('at one social center'), incorrect preposition usage ('over the time' should be 'over time'), and punctuation errors (missing spaces after full stops). The sentence structure is sometimes slightly fragmented. To achieve a higher score, work on improving your control over complex sentence structures and ensure that your punctuation and article usage are consistent and accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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