Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-06
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 shows the continuous changes in the number of participants for some activities at single social centre of Melbourne Australia, between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, the graph contains the activities like Film club, Martial arts, Amateur dramatics, Table tennis and some Musical performances. The Film club is popular due to its maximum number of participants as compared to musical performances which had less participants.
In the year 2000, the participants in musical performances were about 0 and just increased in 2010 to 10. The participants in table tennis sport are from 20 to 55 in 2010 to 2020, but the amateur dramatics participants are decreasing from where it begins, and comes even less than 10.
Meanwhile, the martial arts participants are start with between 30-40 and decreased in year 2005 never increase more than 40 participants. The maximum number of participants was in Film club which is above 60 but less than 70.
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 addresses the task by identifying main features, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the Film club and musical performances, the description of trends is inconsistent. For example, stating that musical performances were 'about 0' in 2000 is imprecise, and the description of the martial arts trend is confusingly phrased. To improve, you should focus on clearly identifying the overall trends (e.g., upward or downward) and providing more accurate data points from the graph. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant differences or patterns across the entire period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'In the year 2000' and 'Meanwhile' are used, but the transition between ideas within paragraphs is often abrupt. The logical progression is hindered by sentences that jump between different activities without clear grouping or comparison. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, such as grouping activities by their growth or decline patterns.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic descriptors like 'increased', 'decreased', and 'popular'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'participants in table tennis sport are from 20 to 55'. Using more specific terminology related to data reporting—such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a downward trend'—would significantly improve the quality of your writing. Additionally, ensure you use accurate terminology for the activities and their trends to avoid ambiguity.
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. Examples include 'the martial arts participants are start with' (incorrect verb tense) and 'comes even less than 10' (awkward phrasing). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past data. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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