Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30
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)
he line graph illustrates the number of people who participated in five different activities at a social centre in Melbourne, Australia, over a 20-year period from 2000 to 2020.
Overall, participation in the film club increased considerably and remained one of the most popular activities throughout the period. In contrast, the number of people participating in table tennis declined significantly towards the end of the period. The figures for amateur dramatics fluctuated, while participation in musical performances and martial arts remained relatively stable overall.
In 2000, the film club had approximately 65 participants. This figure then fluctuated slightly before rising to around 69 by 2020. As a result, the film club experienced an overall upward trend and had a higher level of participation than most of the other activities. Martial arts, meanwhile, accounted for around 36 participants and showed comparatively little change over the period.
The number of participants in amateur dramatics varied considerably. It stood at approximately 25 in 2010 before declining by around 5 participants. Table tennis followed a different pattern. Its participation figure was about 18 in 2000 and remained relatively stable until 2010. However, after that point, it fell steadily, reaching only around 5 participants in 2020. Finally, participation in musical performances was approximately 10 in 2005 and remained fairly stable for the rest of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The student has attempted to address all parts of the task by reporting information on the five activities shown in the line graph, providing an overview and making comparisons. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies when compared against the provided visual data. For instance, the student states that participation in table tennis 'declined significantly towards the end of the period' and 'fell steadily, reaching only around 5 participants in 2020', whereas the graph actually shows that table tennis rose significantly from 16 in 2000 to 54 in 2020. Similarly, the description of amateur dramatics and musical performances contains misreadings of the chart data. These data errors pull the task achievement score down.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is structured with clear paragraphs, beginning with an introduction, followed by an overall summary, and then supporting body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'meanwhile', and 'However' are used to signal logical relationships between ideas. Progression is generally evident in the arrangement of information, though the organizational flow is occasionally undermined by the inaccurate reporting of the underlying data. Overall, the paragraphing and mechanical cohesion are adequate for a Band 6.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing functional reporting phrases such as 'illustrated', 'participated', 'overall upward trend', and 'remained relatively stable'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary items and varied descriptive verbs, although some word choices and data interpretations are flawed. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and communication is not impeded by lexical limitations, placing this response firmly in the Band 6 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'while participation in musical performances and martial arts remained relatively stable overall'). There are several grammatical errors and instances of awkward phrasing, such as minor preposition or tense inconsistencies, but these errors do not impede communication. The majority of simple sentences are accurate, and punctuation is handled adequately throughout the essay.
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