Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)
The line graph illustrates how many people took part in five activities at a social centre in Melbourne over the 20-year period from 2000 to 2020.
Overall, the film club remained the most popular activity throughout the period, whereas amateur dramatics saw a dramatic collapse in participation. Meanwhile, table tennis experienced the most striking growth, and musical performances were introduced partway through, while martial arts showed relative stability.
The film club started at 64 participants, dipping to a low of 60 in 2010 before recovering to 66 by 2020. Table tennis, in contrast, underwent a remarkable transformation: after levelling off at 20, participation surged dramatically, more than doubling to 36 in 2015 and reaching 54 by 2020, thereby overtaking martial arts as the second most popular activity.
Turning to the remaining three, martial arts fluctuated within a narrow band, standing at 36, peaking at 38 in 2010 and finishing where it began. Amateur dramatics moved in the opposite direction, plunging by 22 participants to just 6. Finally, musical performances were launched in 2010 with 12 participants, growing gradually to 18 and remaining the least popular.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the graph, including the overall trends and specific data points. The overview is clear and effectively highlights the most significant changes, such as the growth of table tennis and the decline of amateur dramatics. You have made relevant comparisons throughout, such as noting that table tennis overtook martial arts. The data is accurately reported, and the structure allows for a logical progression of information. You have fully addressed all parts of the task, providing a comprehensive summary that meets the requirements for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is well-organised and flows logically. Each paragraph has a clear focus: the introduction, the overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'whereas', 'meanwhile', 'in contrast', and 'turning to the remaining three'. These transitions help the reader follow the comparison between different activities smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the information is sequenced in a way that makes the data easy to interpret. There is a clear progression of ideas throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.5
You have demonstrated a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'dramatic collapse', 'striking growth', 'underwent a remarkable transformation', and 'fluctuated within a narrow band' show a high level of lexical control. The vocabulary is precise and fits the context of describing trends in a graph perfectly. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and varied. You have successfully avoided repetition by using a diverse set of verbs and adjectives to describe the changes in the data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have used complex sentences effectively, such as 'after levelling off at 20, participation surged dramatically, more than doubling to 36 in 2015 and reaching 54 by 2020'. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your sentences. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few structures used are handled with full flexibility. There is no evidence of grammatical errors that would impede communication, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent throughout the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.