Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-22

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 gives information on the number of participants for different activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia for the period 2000 to 2020.

Overall, in 2020, the number of participants in the film club was very high compared to the other activities. Furthermore, in 2020, the number participants in table tennis was also very high.

In 2000, the number of participants in the film club was approximately 63, but by 2010, it had increased to 66. Furthermore, the number of participants in table tennis increased significantly, from 16 in 2000 to 53 in 2020. However, participation in musical performances increased gradually each year, rising from 0 participants in 2005 to 18 participants in 2020.

In 2000, participation in amateur dramatics decreased from around 27 in 2000 to 20 in 2010. However, it then increased significantly to approximately 53 in 2020. Furthermore, participation in martial arts remained constant from 2000 to 2020, at roughly 38.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the graph, but it contains several significant data inaccuracies and misinterpretations when compared to the visual source. For instance, the student states that the film club figure 'had increased to 66' by 2010, whereas the graph shows a slight decrease to 60. Furthermore, the final paragraph contains a factual contradiction regarding amateur dramatics, claiming it decreased to 20 in 2010 but then 'increased significantly to approximately 53 in 2020,' when the graph clearly shows a steady decline down to 6. While an overview is attempted, it focuses narrowly on the year 2020. These factual errors and misreadings prevent the response from achieving a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding discussion. However, the logical progression is hindered by poor integration of ideas and contradictory data presentation. Cohesive devices such as 'furthermore', 'however', and 'in 2000' are used, but their usage is sometimes mechanical or inappropriate given the contrasting data. Paragraphing is present, but grouping related information together could be improved, particularly regarding how categories are compared over time.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully using terms such as 'participation', 'increased significantly', and 'remained constant'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices, such as omitting a noun in 'the number participants' and misrepresenting trends with words like 'increased significantly' where data contradicts this. Spelling is generally accurate, but the limited control over precise vocabulary items restricts the score to a 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using clauses of time and contrast (e.g., 'although', 'while'). However, grammatical control is inconsistent. There is a missing noun in the second paragraph ('number participants'), and some sentences contain awkward phrasing or structural slips. While simple sentences are generally accurate and errors do not completely impede overall understanding, the frequency of inaccuracies prevents the response 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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