Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01
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 graph illustrates the number of participants at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia for different activities for the period 2000 to 2020.
Overall, the noticeable feature is that the number of participation in film club showed same as it started in year 2000. However, the number of participation had drastically increased in year 2020.
In detail, the number of musical performances participants started with 0 in year 2005 has steadily grown around 20 in year 2020. Whereas, the number of participants in table tennis started around 10 and showed utmost around 50 in year 2020.
Subsequently, the number of participation in amateur dramatics started around 20 in year 2000 which showed minimum to almost 0 in year 2020. By contrast, the participation in table tennis started around 10 in year 2000 and showed at its peak 50 approximately in year 2020.
Similarly, the number of participation in martial arts started around 30 in year 2000 and showed some fluctuations but remained same in year 2020 as well.
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, but the analysis is inconsistent. While you identify trends for most activities, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for instance, you state the film club participation showed the same as it started, but the graph shows a clear decline and recovery. Additionally, the reporting of data is sometimes confusing, such as mentioning table tennis twice with slightly different descriptions. To improve, ensure your overview highlights the most significant trends (e.g., the overall growth in most activities versus the decline in amateur dramatics) rather than focusing on minor details. The data points are generally accurate, but the lack of a clear, cohesive summary of the overall trends limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'the number of participation'. The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the logical progression is hindered by the repetition of information regarding table tennis. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'conversely', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, avoiding the need to revisit data points already discussed in previous sections.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely heavily on the phrase 'the number of participation', which is grammatically awkward; 'participation in' or 'the number of participants' would be more natural. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'showed utmost' and 'showed minimum', which are not standard ways to describe data trends. To improve, incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a downward trend'. Expanding your range of descriptive language will help you convey the data more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with article usage and noun-verb agreement (e.g., 'the number of participation', 'showed same as it started'). Some sentences are awkward, such as 'showed utmost around 50', which obscures the meaning. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the flow of the text. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and try to vary your sentence structures by using more complex clauses to describe the relationships between the data points.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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