Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The charts below give information on the location and types of dance classes young people in a town in Australia are currently attending.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The pie chart illustrates the data of the various locations where dance classes are performed, while the bar chart presents current information of the types of dance classes attended by young people aging under 11 and 11 to 16 year, in a town in Australia.

Overall, the pie chart shows that private studios make up the major space, while College-based studios accounts for the smallest location in a town. In bar chart, students under 11 takes majority of ballet classes, whereas modern dance class is dominated by students aging 11 to 16

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the two chart topics and give a relevant overview: private studios are the largest location, college-based studios the smallest, and under-11s lead in ballet while 11–16-year-olds lead in modern. However, the response addresses the task only partially. It gives no supporting figures and omits important comparisons, especially the age-group pattern for tap and the contrast in ballet and modern participation. The chart shows, for example, about 600 under-11 ballet students versus 300 older students, and roughly 520 older students in modern versus 300 younger ones. The response is also 58 words below the required minimum, leaving too little space to summarise the main features adequately. Include a fuller overview and select key figures to support each comparison.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear basic arrangement: an opening sentence introduces both charts, followed by an overview of their main features. The linking word “while” helps distinguish the two chart topics, and the ideas are generally easy to follow. However, the response ends after the overview, so there is no developed sequence of details or comparison paragraphs. The second sentence also combines several points without clearly separating the location findings from the age-group findings. To improve progression, use a short overview paragraph and then organise the details into two focused sections, one for locations and one for dance types, using comparisons such as “by contrast” where appropriate.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “pie chart,” “bar chart,” “private studios,” and “dominated,” so the topic is recognisable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural: classes are “attended” rather than “performed,” and “major space” does not accurately describe the largest share. “Aging under 11” is also an awkward way to identify the age group. The limited range means that key comparisons are not expressed with much precision. Aim for standard reporting language such as “accounted for,” “the largest proportion,” “participation,” and “students aged 11–16.” More accurate collocations would make the summary clearer and more appropriate to an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a complex opening sentence using “while” to connect the two charts, and the overall meaning can be understood. However, there are some errors in agreement and sentence construction. In “College-based studios accounts,” the plural subject requires “account”; in “students under 11 takes,” the plural subject requires “take.” The final sentence also lacks a full stop, and “11 to 16 year” does not form a correct age-group expression. Most of the response relies on a small number of sentence patterns, so the range is limited. Practise accurate plural agreement and use varied reporting structures, for example, “The figures show that…” followed by a clear comparison.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.