Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22
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 provides data regarding number of contestant for different categories at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia over a period of twenty years from 2000 to 2020.
Overall, substantial growth is observed by table tennis and musical performance activity whereas amateur dramatics category plummeted. Martial arts and film club depict a constant trend with slight fluctuations over the years.
In 2000, table tennis had 18 number of participants which reached 20 in 2010 but till 2020 constant upward trend is depicted reaching 50 total participants. Musical performances had 0 participants in 2005 but it saw an upward trend reaching 15 total contestant in 2020.
A downward trend that started in 2005 reaches 5 total number of participants in 2020 by musical performance activity. Only two categories had slight changes with minor fluctuations are martial arts and film club at 38 and 65 total participants in the year 2020 respectively.
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 the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for the various activities. However, there are significant inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, you state that amateur dramatics 'plummeted' and later mention a downward trend for musical performances, which contradicts the visual data provided. Additionally, the description of the film club and martial arts figures is slightly confusing. To improve, ensure that your data extraction is precise and that your summary accurately reflects the visual information. While the overview is present, the lack of accuracy in reporting specific figures and trends limits the effectiveness of the response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific trends. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In 2000' and 'whereas', to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and confusing transitions between sentences. For example, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow is slightly mechanical. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'substantial growth', 'constant trend', and 'fluctuations'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'number of contestant' (should be 'number of contestants') and '18 number of participants' (should be '18 participants'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do show a lack of precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated vocabulary and ensuring that your word forms and collocations are accurate 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 several grammatical errors, such as 'table tennis had 18 number of participants' and 'Only two categories had slight changes with minor fluctuations are martial arts'. These errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and sentence construction, occur frequently. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed correctly. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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