Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-20

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 given line graph illustrates the number of participants for different activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia, between the period 2000 and 2020.

Overall, the highest number of participants in activities was in the film club, while table tennis experienced the most significant increase throughout the period. The other activities, such as Musical performances and martial arts, fluctuated between 2000 and 2020. In contrast, amateur dramatics experienced a decline.

Film club participation started at about 65 in 2000, fell to 60 in 2010, and then rose back to its initial level by 2020. Table tennis started at about 18 in 2000; in 2015 it reached 40 participants, and it reached 52 participants in 2020. Martial arts participant numbers fluctuated throughout the years, starting at 39 participants and in 2020 it remained the same. Musical performances it recorded n, but in 2010 it rose to 10 participants, and in 2020 it ended at 18 participants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main high point and the strongest rise: film club remains the largest activity, while table tennis grows substantially. You also note the decline in amateur dramatics. However, coverage is incomplete and some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, martial arts began at about 36 and ended at about 36, rather than starting at 39; its fluctuations are not described with intermediate figures. The film club returned to roughly 66, not exactly its initial level, and the table-tennis figures are slightly overstated, though the overall trend is right. The sentence about musical performances is incomplete (“it recorded n”), and the overview incorrectly groups this series with martial arts as fluctuating. The response is 144 words, below the 150-word minimum; develop the missing trends and comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph giving figures for individual activities. The overview’s contrast between table tennis and amateur dramatics helps the reader identify important trends, and time markers such as “in 2010” and “in 2020” provide some sequencing. However, the final paragraph moves abruptly from film club to table tennis, martial arts, and musical performances without grouping related trends or making comparisons. The unfinished phrase “Musical performances it recorded n” interrupts the progression and makes the final point difficult to follow. To improve, organise the details into clearer groups—for example, the consistently high or fluctuating series and the rising or declining ones—and use complete linking sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “participants,” “fluctuated,” “decline,” and “reached,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There is some repetition of “participants” and “number,” however, and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural. “Between the period 2000 and 2020” is an awkward way to describe the timeframe, while “the highest number of participants in activities was in the film club” could be expressed more directly. The phrase “it recorded n” is not a usable description and leaves the musical-performances data unclear. Aim for concise, accurate trend language and vary reporting verbs, such as “stood at,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained stable,” while ensuring each phrase is complete.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a complex overview sentence beginning “while” and a contrast introduced by “In contrast.” Most of the intended meaning can be understood, but errors and awkward constructions recur. “Musical performances it recorded n” has faulty word order and is incomplete; “Martial arts participant numbers fluctuated throughout the years, starting at 39 participants and in 2020 it remained the same” joins ideas without a clear grammatical structure. The opening phrase “between the period 2000 and 2020” also shows difficulty forming the time expression. Use complete clauses with consistent subjects—for example, “The number for martial arts began at about 36 and ended at a similar level”—and check sentence boundaries and punctuation.

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