Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-10
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 the proportion of people that were engaging in different activities in Melbourne, Australia between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, the participants of film club and table tennis increased significantly, while number of people in amateur dramatic was dramatically decreased over the period.
In the beginning, there was more then 60 people in the film club in 2000, a minimal decline in 2010, but it rose to below 70 in 2020. Table tennis was began with approximately 17 participants in 2000, a small increased in 2010, meanwhile it escalated to above 60 in 2020. In martial art the fluctuation showed in the figure over the time. In 2020 it recorded below 40 participants.
Furthermore, amateur dramatic gone up in 2005, but it plummeted as below 10 people in 2020. The musical performance was started with no participants in 2005 but it surged to above 10 in 2010. It remained stable in 2015 and 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all key features of the graph, including the trends for all activities. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the growth in film club and table tennis, and the decline in amateur dramatics. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped; while it mentions the main trends, it could be more precise by highlighting the most significant changes or the final standing of the activities. The data is generally accurate, though some descriptions of the figures are slightly vague (e.g., 'below 70'). To improve, ensure you provide clear comparisons between the activities rather than just listing them individually.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the data. There is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition 'In the beginning' is a bit informal for an academic report. The use of linking words like 'meanwhile' and 'furthermore' is helpful, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring they are used naturally would help elevate the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'escalated', 'plummeted', and 'surged'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'amateur dramatic' (should be 'amateur dramatics') and 'the fluctuation showed in the figure' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Additionally, there are minor errors in word forms, such as 'a small increased' instead of 'a small increase'. While these errors do not impede communication, they limit the precision of your report. Expanding your range of academic collocations would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'there was more then 60 people' (should be 'more than'), 'Table tennis was began' (incorrect passive voice), and 'amateur dramatic gone up' (missing auxiliary verb). These errors are noticeable and occur in basic sentence constructions. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct verb tense usage will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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