Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16
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 below provides data on the number of members for various activities at one social Centre in Melbourne, Australia for the timeline to 2000 to 2020.
Overall, film club was the highest throughout the period as compared to others. Whereas, martial arts had fluctuations in number of participants. Amateur dramatics, had a good slight increase in the beginning and then had a very noticeable drop. On the other hand, table tennis was slightly increasing, then had a massive rose. By contrast, musical performances steadily increased.
In 2000, film club accounted for 62 participants which had a slight decrease in 2005 and in 2010 it was 60, which then grew up steadily and went to 67 in 2020. Whereas, martial arts had 36 members in 2000 which decreased to 30 in 2005. Afterwards, it had an increase of 38 persons in 2010, which then had a slight decrease to 35 in 2015 and went up to 36 in 2020. In contrast, amateur dramatics stood at 26 participants in 2000 which then slightly rose to 28 in 2005. Afterwards, it had a significant decrease in which it dropped at 5 persons in 2020.
Moreover, table tennis had 16 number of individuals which slightly went up to 20. Afterwards, it had massive increase in which it rose up to 55 persons straight. On the other side, musical performance had 0 members in 2005 which then steadily grew to 16 persons in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student successfully reports the main features and trends of the provided graph, covering all five activities over the period from 2000 to 2020. An overview is included in the second paragraph, identifying the general trends and highest-performing category. Key data points are cited to support the descriptions, such as the peak for film club and the dramatic increase in table tennis participation. While there are some minor numerical inaccuracies compared to the raw data (for instance, stating film club started at 62 in 2000 rather than 64), the overall trends are accurately captured and comparisons are made where relevant. This meets the criteria for a Band 6.5 to 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introduction, followed by an overview paragraph, and then detailed body paragraphs grouping the categories logically. A range of cohesive devices is used to signal transitions and contrasts, such as 'Overall', 'Whereas', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover'. However, some cohesive links feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, and referencing is occasionally imprecise. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed body points, ensuring the essay is easy to follow overall.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to graphical trends such as 'fluctuations', 'noticeable drop', 'steadily increased', and 'significant decrease'. However, there are instances of unnatural word choices and awkward collocations, such as 'had a good slight increase', 'massive rose' (instead of rise), and '55 persons straight'. Spelling is generally accurate, but lexical control lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher band levels.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and comparative structures. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout, such as 'timeline to 2000 to 2020', 'dropped at 5 persons' (instead of to), and '16 number of individuals'. While these errors do not seriously impede communication and the basic meaning remains clear, they occur frequently enough to prevent the score from reaching Band 7.0.
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.