Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-30
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 tracks the typical number of participants for five different activities in one of the social centres for a period of 20 years ([redacted phone]) in Melbourne, Austrailia.
Overall, the film club had most number of members all the time while table tennis participants gave the most change starting from less then 20 people to increasing significantly and reaching near 60 till the end of the survey. Also, all other activities were present from the begining but musical performances started in 2005.
In 2000, the table tennis had the least and less then 20 number of participants, the numbers for amateur dramatics and martial arts were near 30 and near 40 respectively, while the film club was the busiest one with more than 60 members. After 2005, we can see a straight decline in the amateur dramatics participants while the table tennis shows a sharp rise after 2010.
In 2010, the members for dramatics and table tennis were near 20 each, musical performances had almost members, martial arts had around 35 while the film club had almost 60 members. In 2020, dramatics had a mere of approx 5 members while film club still had the most number of more then 60 members.
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 provides a clear overview and identifies key trends, such as the film club's consistent popularity and the significant growth of table tennis. However, the reporting of data is occasionally imprecise or confusing. For instance, the statement 'musical performances had almost members' is incomplete and lacks data. Additionally, the description of the trends in 2010 and 2020 is somewhat repetitive and lacks a cohesive analytical focus. While the main features are selected, the lack of precision in reporting specific figures (e.g., 'near 20', 'almost 60') and the omission of clear comparative analysis between all categories limits the score. To improve, ensure all data points are clearly stated and trends are synthesized more effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on different time periods. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In 2000', 'In 2010', 'In 2020'). Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between the activities is not always smooth. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends (e.g., 'straight decline', 'sharp rise', 'increasing significantly'). However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'most number of members all the time' instead of 'highest number of participants throughout the period' and 'mere of approx 5 members'. Spelling errors like 'Austrailia' and 'begining' also occur. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Expanding the use of topic-specific collocations would be beneficial.
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, including issues with articles ('the table tennis', 'the film club'), prepositions, and subject-verb agreement. For example, 'table tennis participants gave the most change' is grammatically awkward, and 'less then' is a recurring spelling error for 'less than'. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate better control. The errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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