Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-27
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 8.5)
The graph illustrates the number of participants for different activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia for the period 2000 to 2020.
Overall, the film club remained the most popular activity throughout the period, despite a small fluctuation in participations. In contrast, table tennis experienced the most significant growth, while amateur dramatics saw a substantial decline. Meanwhile, participants in martial arts fluctuated, whereas musical performances started later but gained popularity towards the end of the period.
Looking first at the activities that attracted the highest numbers of participants, the film club had approximately 64 members in 2000, before its figure declined slightly to 60 in 2010. It then recovered steadily, reaching around 66 participants by 2020. Participation in martial arts, meanwhile, fluctuated throughout the period. Starting at about 36 participants in 2000, the figure fell to 32 in 2005, before rising to 38 in 2010. It subsequently dropped to approximately 34 in 2015 and ended the period at around 36.
Turning to the remaining activities, table tennis experienced the most dramatic growth, rising from just 16 participants in 2000 to 20 in 2005, where it remained unchanged in 2010. The figure then increased sharply to 36 in 2015 before reaching approximately 54 participants in 2020. By contrast, amateur dramatics followed a downward trend overall. After rising slightly from 26 participants in 2000 to 28 in 2005, the figure fell to 20 in 2010 and continued to decline, reaching just 6 by the end of the period. Musical performances, which had no participants in 2000 and 2005, saw a steady increase thereafter, reaching 12 in 2010, 16 in 2015 and 18 in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.5
The response fully and accurately addresses all parts of the task. The student provides a clear and comprehensive overview in the second paragraph, highlighting the main trends such as the film club's enduring popularity, table tennis's significant growth, and amateur dramatics' substantial decline. The subsequent body paragraphs effectively select and report the main features from the visual data, providing precise figures (e.g., approximately 64 members in 2000 for the film club, rising to 66 by 2020) and making appropriate comparisons where relevant. All data points cited are accurate and well-grounded in the provided visual information, demonstrating a complete understanding of the requirements for Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5
The response is exceptionally well-organized and logically sequenced. The introduction clearly sets out the scope of the graph, and the second paragraph provides a fluent overview that guides the reader through the main trends. Cohesive devices are used naturally and unobtrusively throughout the text, as seen in phrases like 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', 'Looking first at', and 'Turning to the remaining activities'. Paragraphing is logical, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct group of activities, ensuring a smooth and clear progression of ideas from start to finish.
Lexical Resource: Band 8.5
The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and precise lexical range appropriate for an academic task. Less common vocabulary items are used with a high degree of control and natural collocation, such as 'enduring popularity', 'fluctuated throughout the period', 'dramatic growth', and 'downward trend overall'. Word choices and phrasing are sophisticated, and there are no noticeable errors in spelling, word formation, or lexical selection, reflecting an advanced command of vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5
The response exhibits a wide and flexible range of grammatical structures used with full accuracy. The student effortlessly integrates complex sentence forms, participial phrases (e.g., 'starting at about 36 participants in 2000, the figure fell...'), and subordinate clauses without sacrificing control. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, with only rare and minor slips that do not impede communication. Punctuation and sentence boundary demarcation are handled flawlessly throughout.
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