Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-29
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 illustrates the usual weekday activities for students in three different countries. The blue bars in the chart are representing the numbers of sleeping students whereas the red lines are showing the students who were studying while the green lines are linked to those students who were relaxing during the weekday.
The chart demonstrates that in United Kingdom, 8.5 of the students spend their weekday while sleeping which is higher than those of studying and relaxing. While 8 students do study and 7 are those who just relax themselves on the weekday. Japan is the second country mentioned in the chart where the students who spend the weekday in studying are much higher than other two countries where the amount is 13 which also exceeds the number of students who spend the weekday while sleeping or relaxing, in the same country. This shows that in Japan the students tends to do study on working days rather than spending times in other activities. The third country mentioned in the chart is Germany where the figures are quite similar to the United Kingdom. In Germany the 8 students spend times while sleeping on weekday but 9 students prefer to study on the weekday. Meanwhile the number of students relaxing themselves on working day are same in Germany and UK with 7 students each.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the bar chart, identifying key trends for the three countries. However, the report lacks a clear overview, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1. The data presentation is somewhat mechanical, listing figures country by country rather than synthesizing the information through effective comparisons. While the main features are identified, the lack of a summary paragraph or a clear introductory overview limits the development of the response. To improve, ensure you highlight the most significant differences or similarities across all three countries in a dedicated overview sentence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. Phrases like 'The third country mentioned in the chart is...' and 'The chart demonstrates that...' are used to transition between ideas, but the flow between sentences could be more sophisticated. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression is hindered by the tendency to list data points rather than grouping them by trends or categories. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'relax themselves' and 'the students tends to do study'. The use of 'amount' is also technically incorrect when referring to countable students; 'number' or 'proportion' would be more appropriate. While the meaning is clear, the lexical range is limited, and the student relies on basic descriptors. Incorporating more precise academic vocabulary related to data description 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, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('students tends to do study'), incorrect article usage ('in United Kingdom'), and awkward verb tenses ('are representing', 'are showing'). These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader, though they do not fully impede communication. To reach a higher band, the student needs to focus on consistent subject-verb agreement and more accurate use of articles and prepositions in an academic context.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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