Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17
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 graph illustrates how many participants for different activities(Film club, Martial arts, Amateur dramatics, Table tennis, Musical performances) at particular centre in Melbourne, Australia between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that Musical performances increased over the period. Table tennis rose slightly till 2010 and after it grew significantly during the period. In contrast, Amateur dramatics surge till 2005 after surging it declined considerably. Martial arts experienced some fluctuations.
Musical performances experienced substantial growth rising from 0% in 2005 to almost 15% by the end of the period while Amateur dramatics witnessed a slight increase till 2005 by approximately 27% and after it dropped gradually over the period.
Table tennis surge gradually rising from just 16% in 2000 to 20% till 2010 and after it witnessed a sharp rise by approximately 51% over the period. Film club and Martial arts were showed little variation.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main trends and provided some data points, the analysis is incomplete. For instance, you mention 'Film club and Martial arts' showed little variation but provide no specific data to support this. Furthermore, the data interpretation is inconsistent; you describe percentages (e.g., 15%, 51%) which are not clearly supported by the graph provided. To improve, ensure you cover all categories with accurate data and meet the length requirement to allow for a full development of the main features.
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 phrase 'after it grew' and 'after surging it declined' are repetitive and lack smooth transitions. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the lack of clear linking between the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs makes the flow feel disjointed. Using a wider variety of linking words such as 'subsequently', 'meanwhile', or 'in contrast' would help improve the logical flow between sentences and paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, using terms like 'substantial growth', 'fluctuations', and 'witnessed'. However, there are issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'Amateur dramatics surge' should be 'surged' (past tense), and 'were showed little variation' is grammatically incorrect. Additionally, the word 'surge' is used repeatedly, which limits the sophistication of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'plummeted', 'stabilised', or 'a marginal increase', and ensure your word forms are accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include tense inconsistencies (e.g., 'Film club and Martial arts were showed') and missing articles (e.g., 'at particular centre'). There are also errors in subject-verb agreement and word order. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic tense consistency and ensuring correct sentence construction will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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