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 a social centre of Melbourne Australia, between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, the graph contains the activities such as 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 fewer 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 the beginning, and fell even less than 10.
Meanwhile, the martial arts participants started with between 30-40 and decreased in the year 2005 and never increased 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 covers the main features of the graph, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the Film club as the most popular and mention trends for other activities, the description of the data is often imprecise. For example, stating that musical performances were 'about 0' in 2000 is vague, and the description of the martial arts trend lacks clarity regarding the specific timeframes. To reach a higher band, you should provide more precise data points and ensure that the comparisons between activities are more analytical rather than just listing numbers. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant trends across the entire period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the logical progression is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of cohesive devices. For instance, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. While you use some linking words like 'meanwhile', the connection between sentences is often mechanical. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the grouping of activities feels disjointed. Improving the use of cohesive devices to link ideas more fluidly would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the trends, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'decreased' repeatedly. While you successfully use terms like 'participants' and 'activities', there is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To improve, try to incorporate more varied vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a sharp decline'. Additionally, ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate to avoid minor inaccuracies that slightly impact the professional tone of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally affect the clarity of your writing. For example, 'the participants in table tennis sport are from 20 to 55 in 2010 to 2020' is awkwardly constructed and lacks proper tense usage for describing past data. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent use of past tenses for historical data will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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