Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23
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 figure illustrates the data on the number of students participating in different activities at a social centre in Melbourne, Australia from 2000 to 2020.
Overall, the participants in the category of film clubs overshadowed every other club by a whole lot. Whereas , the other groups showed a lot of variations over the years but could not reach the same level as the film club.
First of all, the film club got the most popular vote with a percentage of 75% with minor variations over the years such as a 5% drop in participants in the year 2005 and a further decrease of 1% in 2010. Therefore, again its percentage jumped back to 60% in 2015 and to almost 70 % in 2020 dominating all clubs entirely.
Next, martial arts indicated by a triangle in the figure shows a starting point of 35% from the year 2000 to 2020 with minor variations in percentage in between these years and no major changes were recorded.
Furthermore, Amatuer dramatics, showed a drop in membership from 2010 to 2020 with a percentage drop of 20 % to 5 %.
Moreover, Table tennis showed the highest variation rate which jumped from a number of 20 to 50 % from 2010 to 2020.
The most unpopular club recognized as the musical performances group started off as low as 0% and showed a minor increment in 2005 to 2020 from 0 to 15 % as the least favoured type of activity.
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 all key features of the graph, including the overall trend and specific data points. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, you mention the film club reached 60% in 2015 and 70% in 2020, but the data interpretation for other categories is occasionally imprecise or confusing (e.g., mixing percentages and raw numbers for table tennis). While you identify the main trends, the reporting of data lacks the precision required for a higher band. To improve, ensure that all data points are clearly linked to the correct years and that the distinction between percentages and numbers is maintained consistently throughout the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'Next' to transition between ideas. However, some of these transitions feel mechanical, and the internal structure of the paragraphs could be tighter. For example, the second paragraph contains a sentence fragment ('Whereas , the other groups...'), which disrupts the flow. Additionally, the referencing of data points could be more fluid to avoid a list-like quality. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring sentence-level cohesion will help elevate the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'overshadowed', 'variations', and 'dominating'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and informal phrasing, such as 'by a whole lot' and 'most popular vote'. There are also some minor errors in collocation and terminology, such as 'Amatuer' (spelling) and 'highest variation rate'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more academic, precise vocabulary and ensure that spelling is accurate throughout the text.
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 'the film club got the most popular vote' (informal/inaccurate), 'indicated by a triangle in the figure shows' (subject-verb agreement/redundancy), and inconsistent punctuation around percentages. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'jumped from a number of 20 to 50 %'. Increasing the accuracy of complex structures and refining punctuation will help improve the overall grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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