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 graph illustrates data about how many individuals participated in different social activities at a centre in the Australian city, Melbourne from 2000 to 2020.
Overall, the film club has remained the most liked activity throughout the period while the Amateurs drama club saw a downfall in attendance. The table tennis and the musical performers groups saw a significant surge in the later years.
The filming department had the highest number of individuals taking part in 2000 which with slight fluctuations maintained its top rank till 2020 with never going below 60 participants. In contrast, the amateur club started with about 25 artists in 2000, increased to almost 30 in 2005 but then fell steadily through the later years ending with lowest number of about 5 players in 2020 across all activities.
The table tennis participation started at around 16 players in 2000 which remained stable with slight increase till 2020 but then sky-rocketed to more than 50 players in 2020 taking second highest played sport. While the musical performances had no one interested till 2005 but then the figure rose to about 10 in 2010 and kept steadily increasing till 2020 with almost 15 players. martial arts
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview. You have selected key features, such as the film club's dominance and the decline of the drama club. However, the report is incomplete as it fails to mention the 'martial arts' category, which is clearly visible in the graph. Additionally, the description of the table tennis trend contains a factual error; you state it remained stable until 2020 and then 'sky-rocketed', whereas the graph shows a gradual increase throughout the period. To reach a higher band, ensure all data points are accounted for and described with greater precision.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas throughout the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In contrast', 'Overall', and 'while', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the final sentence fragment 'martial arts' appears disconnected from the rest of the text, suggesting a lack of final proofreading. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring all information is fully integrated into the narrative would enhance the coherence score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'surge', and 'sky-rocketed' to describe trends. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'filming department' (the graph likely refers to a 'film club') and 'players' for activities that may not be sports. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to data reporting and ensure terminology matches the context provided in the prompt.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'the musical performers groups' (should be 'musical performance group') and 'with never going below' (should be 'without ever going below'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure in the final paragraph is slightly awkward. The majority of your sentences are understandable, and errors do not impede communication, but more consistent control over complex structures and articles is needed to move into the 7.0+ range.
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.