Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20
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 compares the five types of social activities taking place in Melbourne, between 2000 and 2020.
In general, film club had the most number of participants at the start, however the data fluctuated over the period. From 2010 onwards, Musical and table tennis members experienced a similar trend. While the graph of martial arts varied throughout the timeline.
The proportion of film club attendees peaked at approximately two-thirds, before dropping by 2010. In comparison, the data of participation in martial arts and amateur dramatics varied considerably over the two decades. However, amateur had a quarter of members at the start, whereas it reached its lowest point at approximately 5%. It also matched the level of table tennis by 2010, but the number of table tennis climbed steadily at a peak of roughly 55%. In addition, the participants of music rose gradually between the period of 2005 and 2020. It began particularly at zero, growing around 15% by 2020.
In contrast, participants of martial arts and film club fluctuated over the time, while the others followed different trends, with some increasing and others declining.
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 provides a clear overview of the main trends, which is a positive feature. However, there are significant issues with accuracy regarding the data. For instance, you mention the film club peaked at 'two-thirds' (approx. 66%), whereas the graph shows it starting at roughly 35-40%. Additionally, describing the music participation as beginning 'at zero' is inaccurate as the graph shows it starting at a non-zero value. While you attempt to report main features, the misinterpretation of the data points prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the axes and data points before writing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In general', 'In comparison', and 'In contrast' to signal shifts in the narrative. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by unclear referencing; for example, 'amateur had a quarter of members' is grammatically incomplete and confusing. The connection between sentences is occasionally mechanical. To improve, focus on using cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that every noun phrase is clearly defined so the reader does not have to guess the subject.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'steadily', and 'proportion'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'most number of participants' (should be 'highest number') and 'amateur had a quarter of members' (should be 'amateur dramatics'). There is also a lack of variety in reporting verbs. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations related to data description, such as 'witnessed a sharp decline' or 'remained relatively stable'.
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 'between the period of 2005 and 2020' (redundant) and 'It began particularly at zero' (awkward adverb placement). There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed with correct prepositional phrases.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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