Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16
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 graph illustrates the number of participants that involved in different activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia between the year 2000 to 2020.
overall, film club and martial arts remained almost stable over the period, while amateur dramatics experienced decreasing trend. On the other hand, musical performances started from 2005 and gradually increased throughout the period. Lastly, the table tennis started linearly and then began to rise afterwards.
Firstly, 64 number of participants observed in year 2000, reducing to 60 participants in 2010 and then again slightly reached at 65 in 2020. Secondly, martial arts showed small fluctuations over the period, 36 participants took part in this activity in year 2000 then decreased to 33 participants in 2005 and again rose to 38 in number in 2010 after that reduced to 34 in 2015 and became stable till 2020.
In contrast, amateur arts showed declining trend over the period, starting from 26 participants in 2000, remained stable till 2005 after that it experienced decreasing trend and fell to 8 participants in 2020. Table tennis activity, rose from16 participants in year 2000 to 18 participants in 2005, remained almost stable then gradually increased, reached at 36 in 2015 and peaked at 52 in 2020. Lastly, the musical performances were considered 0 until 2005, then rose from 0 to 11 participants in 2010, following upward trend and reached to 18 participants in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the graph, including the trends for each activity. You successfully identified the main differences, such as the stability of film club versus the decline in amateur dramatics. However, the overview is slightly weak; while it mentions trends, it could be more analytical by grouping the activities more effectively. The data reporting is generally accurate, though there are some minor inaccuracies in the specific figures cited (e.g., the film club starting at 64 in 2000). To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the most significant trends rather than just listing them, and double-check the data points against the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'Firstly', and 'In contrast' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is a bit cluttered; the second body paragraph is quite long and contains a mix of data for different activities, which makes it harder to follow. Improving the paragraph structure by grouping related trends (e.g., increasing vs. decreasing activities) would enhance the flow. Referencing is generally clear, but the transition between sentences could be more varied to avoid a repetitive structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'declining trend', and 'peaked'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as '64 number of participants observed' (should be 'a total of 64 participants') and 'musical performances were considered 0' (should be 'there were no participants'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise reporting verbs and nouns to describe data changes, and ensure your phrasing sounds natural in an academic context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('in year 2000'), incorrect verb forms ('that involved' instead of 'involved'), and punctuation issues. Some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as 'Table tennis activity, rose from16 participants'. You have attempted complex sentences, but they often contain minor errors that affect the fluency of the text. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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