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)

The line graph provides data about the number of participants for five different activities at a social center in Melbourne, Australia, for the period of twenty years: 2000 to 2020.

Overall, three activities showed an upward trend, while the table tennis category stabilized, and the amateur dramatics class witnessed a downward trend throughout the period of two decades.

Firstly, the film club slightly declined from 64 participants in 2000 to around 60 in 2005 and then fell to 60 in 2010. Additionally, the number of martial arts participants dropped from 37 in 2000 to 31 in 2005 as compared to a slight increase and a move to 39 participants in 2010. Moreover, the amateur dramatics category increased a little bit from 27 in 2000 to 29 participants in 2005. In 2015, the amateur category faced decline and stayed at 20. In addition, table tennis participants increased from 18 in 2000 to 20 in 2010 and remained the same in 2015. From 2000 to 2005, there was no participation in musical performances, but there was a sharp increase in the number of participants to 12 in 2010.

In 2015, musical performance surpassed table tennis and jumped to about 17 participants, while martial arts surpassed amateur dramatics and moved to approximately 36 participants and reached about 52 at the end of the period. Film club followed the upward trajectory from 2015 to 2010 and climbed to 65 participants in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have provided a clear overview and selected key features to describe the trends. However, there are significant inaccuracies in your data reporting. For instance, you state that the film club declined from 64 to 60 in 2005, but the graph shows it rising to approximately 70. You also mention the amateur dramatics category increased to 29 in 2005, whereas the graph indicates a decline. These factual errors undermine the accuracy of your summary. While you attempt to compare the categories, the misinterpretation of the visual data prevents a higher score. Ensure you double-check the alignment of your data points with the axes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' to link your ideas. However, the progression of information is sometimes confusing due to the data inaccuracies mentioned earlier. The transition between the years is generally clear, but the paragraphing could be more balanced to ensure a smoother flow of information. Overall, the structure is coherent, but the internal logic is occasionally hampered by the misread data.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trend', 'stabilized', 'downward trend', and 'surpassed'. There are some instances of repetitive phrasing, such as 'number of participants' and 'category'. While you attempt to use some less common vocabulary, the inaccuracies in data reporting sometimes make the lexical choices feel less precise. To improve, try to vary your verbs and nouns to describe trends more dynamically, such as using 'fluctuated' or 'remained constant' instead of repeating 'remained the same'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'a move to 39 participants' and 'faced decline', which should be 'faced a decline'. Additionally, there are minor issues with preposition usage and article omission. However, these errors do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the response. To reach a higher band, focus on refining your use of articles and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed with greater precision.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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