Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-04
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)
Overall, the film club was the most popular activity during the whole period. table tennis saw a large increase , while amateur dramatics became less popular . the number for martial arts and musical performance changed in different ways . In 2000 people 64 people attended the film club. the number fell around 60 in 2010, but then increased again to about 65 in 2020. martial arts had around 35 participants in 2000 . this figure fell to about 30 in 2005 and then rose to nearly 38 in 2010. by 2020, it was about 35. amateur dramatics had about 25 participant in 2000 and increased slightly in 2005. however , the number then decreased steadily and reached only around 5 people in 2020 . table tennis showed the different trend . it started at about 15 participant in 2000 and rose gradually . after 2010 , the number increased quickly and reached approx 50 participant in 2020. finally , musical performances had almost no participant in 2000 and 2005 , but the figure increased to around 18 in 2020 .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| 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 overall trend and specific data points for each activity. You have successfully identified the most popular activity and noted the contrasting trends between table tennis and amateur dramatics. However, the report lacks a clear structure; it is presented as a single block of text rather than distinct paragraphs. To improve, ensure you group information logically—perhaps by trends (increasing vs. decreasing) or by activity—and include a clear overview paragraph. While the data is accurate, the presentation could be more analytical by grouping similar trends together rather than listing each activity sequentially.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The biggest issue here is the lack of paragraphing, which makes the text difficult to navigate. A standard IELTS report should have an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. While you use some cohesive devices like 'however' and 'finally', the flow is somewhat mechanical. The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the lack of paragraph breaks significantly impacts the logical progression of the report. To reach a higher band, you must organize your ideas into clear, distinct paragraphs and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your observations more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe trends such as 'increased quickly' and 'decreased steadily'. However, there is a lack of variety and some recurring errors. For example, you use 'participant' in the singular form when referring to plural numbers (e.g., '15 participant'). Additionally, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and ensure you are using plural nouns correctly when discussing statistics. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and adverbs would also help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent errors in punctuation and capitalization, such as starting sentences with lowercase letters and inconsistent spacing around commas. There are also grammatical slips, such as 'the number for martial arts and musical performance changed' (should be 'numbers') and 'the different trend' (should be 'a different trend'). While you attempt some complex structures, the accuracy is inconsistent. Focus on basic sentence mechanics, such as subject-verb agreement and proper capitalization, before attempting more complex grammatical forms. Proofreading your work for these small but frequent errors would significantly improve the clarity of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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