Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-15

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 illustrates that provides the data about the number of participants in different habits on social platforms in Melbourne, a city in Australia, between the years 2000 and 2020. In the overview, the number of participants in the film club is much higher than the other ones. The number of participants in musical performances is much lower than the others.

In 2000, the number of musical performances is zero, but in the year 2005 it rises from zero and goes to 18 in 2020. In 2000 and 2010, the number of participants in table tennis fluctuated at the same level, but by the end, in 2020, the number of participants will be 50.

From 2000 to 2020, the number of participants fluctuated between 60 and 70. The number of participants in martial arts also fluctuated between 30 and 40 from 2000 to 2020. The number of participants in amateur dramatics was 25 in 2000; it can drop to zero in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the film club as the largest activity and describe the broad stability of film club and martial arts, as well as the decline in amateur dramatics. However, several details are inaccurate or unclear: musical performances remained at zero until 2005 and first rose in 2010, while table tennis was 16 in 2000 and 20 in 2010, not at the same level in both years. Its 2020 figure was about 54, rather than 50. The overview also calls musical performances the lowest without noting their substantial rise, and the response does not clearly highlight table tennis as the strongest growth. Select the main trends accurately and support them with key comparisons across the period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by details about several activities. This gives the reader a general sense of the chart, and time markers such as “In 2000” and “From 2000 to 2020” help locate information. However, progression between points is not consistently clear. The second paragraph moves from musical performances to table tennis, while the final paragraph groups film club, martial arts and amateur dramatics without a clear comparison or sequence. Some links are also confusing, such as saying table tennis “fluctuated at the same level” before describing its later rise. Organise the body into clearer comparisons—for example, stable activities together and changing activities together—and use precise references to connect each trend.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “rises,” and “drop,” and the activity names are generally clear. However, some word choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this task. “Different habits on social platforms” misrepresents activities at a social centre, and “the other ones” is vague. “The number of musical performances” also refers to events rather than participants, which makes the meaning less precise. Repetition of “the number of participants” limits flexibility, while “it can drop” is an awkward way to describe a past trend. Use accurate terms such as “activities,” “participants,” and “figure,” and vary reporting verbs with options such as “remained stable,” “climbed,” and “declined.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a time clause in “In 2000, the number … is zero, but in the year 2005…”. Most of the intended comparisons can be understood, but tense control is inconsistent when describing past data: “is zero,” “will be 50,” and “it can drop” should use past forms. The opening sentence, “illustrates that provides the data,” contains an unnecessary and faulty clause structure. There are also awkward constructions such as “In 2000 and 2010 … fluctuated at the same level,” which makes the comparison difficult to follow. Use a consistent past tense and build sentences around clear subjects and verbs, such as “Table tennis rose from 16 participants in 2000 to 54 in 2020.”

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