Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02
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 illustrates the changes in the number of people participating in five different activities at one social center in Melbourne, Australia over the period 2000 to 2020.
Overall, the numbers of participants in different activities increased over the time period except amateur dramatics, there are almost 25 participants in the period 2000 and declined over the period 2020 at 5 participants, while in table tennis participants are less than amateur dramatics in the period 2000 but saw a steady rise from the period 2010 and finished around 55 participants at the period 2020.
Moreover, participants in film club activity remained same during the period 2000 to 2020 and in the martial arts activity participants had fluctuations but in the end same around 38 participants in this activity . However, there were no participants in musical performances over the period 2000 and towards but later increased in the period 2005 until 2020 at almost 20 participants.
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 five activities, but the reporting of data is inconsistent and lacks precision. While you identify the main trends, the description of the data is often inaccurate. For example, you state that the film club remained the same, but the graph shows a clear decline. Additionally, the description of amateur dramatics is confusing, and the phrasing 'towards but later increased' is vague. To improve, ensure you accurately extract data points from the graph and provide a clearer overview of the most significant trends, such as the overall growth in participation across most categories compared to the decline in others.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs, which provides a basic structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moreover' and 'However', but they are sometimes used incorrectly or in a way that makes the flow mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the time periods. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus to help the reader follow your argument more easily.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'increased' and 'declined' repeatedly. There are also some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'finished around 55 participants' and 'same around 38 participants', which sound unnatural. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to data analysis, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'a significant rise'. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you describe the trends with greater sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include incorrect preposition usage (e.g., 'at the period 2020' instead of 'in 2020'), missing articles, and awkward verb tenses. For instance, 'there are almost 25 participants in the period 2000' should be in the past tense. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of past tense when describing historical data to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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