Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-31
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 illustration shows information about participants in social events in Melbourne between 2000 to 2020. Overall, the film club and martial arts members were equal from start to end, but amateur dramatics participants decreased at the end.
It is quite evident from the graph the number of participants in different activities at different levels, as in 2000, in film club there was the highest number of members more than 60, and in other activities like martial arts and table tennis players were less than 40, but the main problem was zero participants in musical performance, and with the passage of time in 2010, the amateur dramatics and table tennis members were equal, and musical participants increased to more than 10.
Meanwhile, in 2020, the number of participants in the film club was the same as previous, more than 60, but amateur dramatics members decreased to get the lowest number in the graph less than 10, and the table tennis players rapidly increased to get the second highest position in 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 the main features of the graph, such as the film club's stability and the decline in amateur dramatics. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The description of the data is occasionally inaccurate or confusing, such as the claim that martial arts and film club members were 'equal from start to end,' which is not supported by the visual data. Furthermore, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview that synthesizes the trends effectively. While all categories are mentioned, the comparison between activities is underdeveloped, and the focus remains on listing individual data points rather than highlighting significant trends or shifts over the twenty-year period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for a Task 1 response. However, the flow of ideas is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'in 2000' and 'in 2020' to start sentences. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. While the reader can follow the general progression of the report, the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the text feel like a list of observations rather than a cohesive summary. Paragraphing is present but could be used more effectively to group related trends.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'highest number,' 'lowest number,' and 'increased.' There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'decreased to get the lowest number' and 'increased to get the second highest position,' which sound unnatural. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of an attempt to use more sophisticated or academic terminology to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated,' 'remained constant,' or 'experienced a sharp rise.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. For example, 'the film club and martial arts members were equal from start to end' is grammatically awkward, and 'the number of participants in different activities at different levels, as in 2000' is a fragmented, run-on structure. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several long, comma-spliced sentences. While the meaning is usually understandable, the frequency of errors in sentence construction and verb tense usage prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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