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 line graph illustrates the data on the total number of candidates who participated in various activities that were being held at a social centre of Australia located in the city Melbourne between the period of 2000 to 2020.

Overall, the line graph shows the numbers of the participants who took part in different activities between the year (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020) as well as the diverse range of activities.

Firstly, the activity that stayed on top of the graph was film club. It started in the year 2000 with almost 63 candidates and stayed in competition for two decades whereas table tennis started with the lowest participants like 17 to 18 members and continued to grow the numbers of the participants especially from the year 2015 to 2020.

Secondly, amateur dramatics which started with 38 members in 2000 and instead of getting more candidates they dropped out quickly after 2010. Musical performances started from 2005 and increased the numbers of participants gradually throughout the years. However the candidates were stagnant in the activity of martial arts with the number of 38 throughout the period of 2000 to 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for the various activities. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the film club and table tennis, the description of the data is occasionally imprecise (e.g., 'almost 63' or '17 to 18'). Furthermore, the overview is a bit repetitive, merely listing the years rather than summarizing the overall trends. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a clear, concise summary of the most significant trends and make more direct comparisons between the activities rather than describing them in isolation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'However' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'instead of getting more candidates they dropped out'. The flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is smoother.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'participated', 'stagnant', and 'gradually'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'candidates' (which is more appropriate for an election or job application than a social club) and 'stayed in competition', which is not the most natural way to describe participation numbers. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained constant'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'the activity that stayed on top of the graph was film club' (missing an article) and 'continued to grow the numbers of the participants' (awkward phrasing). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to enhance the accuracy of your writing.

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

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