Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The bar chart shows the typical weekday for students in three different countries.

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The bar chart outlines the activities performed in the weekdays by pupils in three different countries, namely United Kingdom, Japan and Germany.

Overall, it can be observed that the majority of the learners spend hours while studying in the Japanese territory, whereas the British students spare the least time for the same activity.

Foremost, a glance to the data showcases that German and British scholars relax for the same duration that is for 7 hours, however the juniors in Japan rest for just 4 hours. In addition, the tutees in United Kingdom sleep half an hour more than those in Germany which is 8.5 and 8 hours respectively similarly the students in Japan take a healthy and sufficient sleep for 7 hours.

Furthermore, German freshmen are second large community who understands the importance of studies after the Japanese by studying for at least 9 hours daily during their weekdays, in contrast the Britishers study for an hour less than them that is for 8 hours.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the bar chart, including comparisons between the three countries. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, the text states that German students study for 9 hours, while the chart indicates a different figure. Additionally, the description of 'freshmen' is inappropriate for a general student population. While the main trends are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the data points limits the score. To improve, ensure that all figures are transcribed accurately from the visual prompt and avoid using specific academic labels like 'freshmen' unless the data explicitly supports such a classification.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Foremost', and 'In addition' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced, such as 'Foremost' at the start of the second paragraph. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the referencing could be smoother. The structure is sufficient to follow the writer's argument, but it lacks the sophisticated flow required for higher bands. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used in a natural context would enhance the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors. Terms like 'Japanese territory', 'juniors', and 'tutees' are not the most natural choices for describing students in this context. The phrase 'second large community' is grammatically incorrect and imprecise. While the writer attempts to use a range of vocabulary, the lack of precision and occasional misuse of terms prevent a higher score. Focusing on more academic and precise terminology, such as 'proportion', 'duration', or 'allocate time', would significantly improve the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'spend hours while studying' (should be 'spend hours studying'), 'second large community who understands' (should be 'second largest group that understands'), and 'which is 8.5 and 8 hours respectively similarly' (which lacks proper punctuation). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To reach a higher band, the writer should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and more accurate punctuation to ensure that complex sentences are error-free.

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.