Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-11

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 5.0)

The graph illustrates the number of participants for different activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia between 2000 and 2020.

Overall, the number of participants at Film club remains higher throughout the period but fluctuated in other activities between 2000 and 2020. Although, there was no participants in Musical performances in 2000, the number of participants slightly increases throughtout the year.

In 2000, table tennis has the lowest number of participants than other activities then rose significantly to approximately 55 number of participants in 2020, and it becomes the second highest number of participants.

After a slight increase in 2005, there was massive decrease in the number of participants in Amateur dramatics in 2020 which has the lowest number of participants in the year 2020. While the Martial arts fluctuated throughtout the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified some main features, such as the trends for the Film club and table tennis, the analysis is underdeveloped. You have not provided sufficient data points or detailed comparisons to fully satisfy the task requirements. For instance, the description of 'Martial arts' is vague, stating only that it 'fluctuated' without providing specific figures or context. To improve, ensure you include more data points and provide a more comprehensive overview of all categories presented in the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the use of 'Although' at the start of the second paragraph is grammatically incorrect in this context. Additionally, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus that contributes to the overall progression of your report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors like 'massive decrease' and 'slight increase'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'throughtout the year' (which should be 'throughout the period') and '55 number of participants' (which is redundant). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'a marginal rise', 'a sharp decline', or 'remained relatively stable', and ensure your collocations are natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'there was no participants' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'table tennis has the lowest number... then rose' (inconsistent tense usage). You also have several spelling errors, such as 'throughtout'. To improve, focus on maintaining consistent tense usage when describing past data and ensure subject-verb agreement. Proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and spelling will help you avoid these common errors.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.