Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-28
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 given line graph illustrates the information about the number of participants for different activities in Melbourne and Australia between 2000 and 2002. A glance at the graph reveals that the number of participants for Table tennis increased dramatically to the end of the given time, while Amateur dramatics decreased significantly at the end of the given timeframe. However, Musical performances emerged as a new activity later.
In 2000, Table tennis started from around 15 and then increased slightly to 20 in 2005 and remained stable till 2010 before experiencing a dramatic increase to around 40 and 2015 and then to nearly 52 in 2020. Meanwhile, Amateur dramatics stood around 25 in 2000 with slight increase to 30 in 2005 before declined to 20 in 2010 and kept falling nearly 5 in 2020.
Furthermore, Martial arts began from around 35 in 2000 to 30 in 2005 before rose again to 40 in 2010 and showed moderate changes till 2020 around 39. However, Film club recorded at almost 65 in 2000 and showed erratic changes till 2020 around 66. Musical performance emerged in 2005 from zero and increased slightly to the end of the graph.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 trends for each activity. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the dramatic rise in Table tennis and the decline in Amateur dramatics. However, there is a significant factual error in the introduction: you state the period is '2000 and 2002', whereas the graph covers 2000 to 2020. Additionally, the description of the data could be more analytical; rather than listing every data point, focus on grouping trends and highlighting the most significant changes. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated to highlight the overall contrast between the activities.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Furthermore', and 'However' are used to link sentences and ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly forced. The referencing is generally clear, though the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the activities based on their trends (e.g., those that increased versus those that decreased) rather than just listing them one by one. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dramatically', 'remained stable', and 'erratic changes'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'recorded at almost 65' (should be 'was recorded at') and 'before declined' (should be 'before declining'). While you attempt to use a variety of verbs to describe trends, some phrasing is slightly repetitive. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid minor errors in word form that occasionally occur when describing the data points.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and prepositions, such as 'before rose again' (should be 'before rising again') and 'kept falling nearly 5' (should be 'kept falling to nearly 5'). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'Musical performance emerged in 2005 from zero'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent verb forms and correct preposition usage when describing trends will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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