Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-04
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 5.0)
The line graph illustrates participation in social activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia, over a period of two decades.
At first glance, the film club membership was at its highest. Music performers were at their lowest level before growing dramatically. Martial arts performers showed fluctuation throughout the two decades.
In 2000, the film club had a high number of participants, around 65. After that, it fell dramatically to 60 before rising dramatically in the last decade to 70. Amateur dramatics saw a slight increase at first, then showed a sudden fall in the number of participants in 2020.
On the other hand, Table tennis players showed initially steady growth and then rose dramatically from 2010 to 2020.
overall, Film club, Table tennis
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The response sits at this band because it addresses the task only partially and is heavily incomplete. The length requirement is not met, as the response contains only 116 words, falling 34 words short of the 150-word minimum, with eight words copied directly from the prompt excluded. While the writer attempts an overview and reports some data points such as the film club and table tennis, the response trails off abruptly at the end ('overall, Film club, Table tennis'), leaving key trends under-developed and missing comparisons for several categories like martial arts and amateur dramatics. To reach a higher band, the student must write at least 150 words, complete all intended sentences, and ensure all five activities are properly integrated with clear comparative data throughout the body paragraphs.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
Cohesion and logical progression show some basic organization, but the overall structure is compromised by the abrupt truncation of the text. The writer uses some paragraphing to separate the introduction, overview, and body sections, and employs basic transitional markers like 'At first glance' and 'On the other hand'. However, referencing is sometimes unclear, and the lack of a finished conclusion means there is no clear overall progression to the end of the response. Cohesive devices are minimal and occasionally repetitive. To improve coherence, the student needs to ensure every paragraph is fully completed, develop a more cohesive linking strategy between data points, and provide a proper concluding summary rather than cutting off mid-sentence.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for a basic summary, attempting some less common items related to trends such as 'dramatically', 'fluctuation', and 'steady growth'. However, the range is limited and repetition occurs, alongside noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to 'Music performers' when the chart measures 'Musical performances'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but lexical control lacks precision and flexibility. To achieve a higher band, the student must expand their vocabulary range, use precise collocations that match the visual data accurately, and avoid repetitive phrasing when describing similar upward or downward trends across different activities.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response displays a limited range of sentence structures, mixing simple sentences with a few attempted complex forms such as 'After that, it fell dramatically to 60 before rising dramatically in the last decade to 70.' Grammatical control is mixed, featuring some correct past tense verb forms and prepositions, but repetition of adverbs like 'dramatically' highlights structural rigidity. Punctuation is generally functional, but the incomplete final sentence demonstrates a breakdown in grammatical control. To move to a higher band, the writer needs to demonstrate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures with greater accuracy, ensuring that all sentences are fully formed and free from repetitive patterns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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