Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-01
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 typical weekday for students in three different countries.
Overall, the number of students accounted for studying in a typical weekday were highest in Japan and Germany. The figure for sleeping was highest in the UK. In addition, the number of students for relaxing were lowest over the countries.
Initially, the number of students accounted for studying in a typical weekday in Japan stood at 13. The number decreased for Germany with 9 students and stood for 8 students in UK. The number of students who opted for sleeping in a typical weekday stood at 8.5 in UK whereas Germany with the 8 students and Japan stood at 7 students for sleeping in a typical weekday.
In addition, the number of students for relaxing in a typical weekday were lowest in the figure. UK and Germany with the identical number of 7 students whereas Japan accounted with 4 students.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 chart, such as the highest and lowest values for each category. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the trends. While you identify the highest and lowest figures, the comparison between countries is limited. For example, you state the figures for Japan, Germany, and the UK separately rather than grouping them to highlight significant differences or similarities. To improve, focus on synthesizing the data—grouping countries that share similar patterns—rather than listing each data point individually. This would provide a more cohesive summary of the information presented in the chart.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. Phrases like 'In addition' and 'The number of' are used frequently, which makes the flow feel a bit stilted. Furthermore, the referencing is occasionally unclear; for instance, 'lowest in the figure' is an awkward way to refer to the data. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that transitions between sentences are smoother and more natural, rather than relying on a formulaic structure for every sentence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'the number of students' and 'stood at', which limits the range of your expression. There are also some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'accounted for studying' and 'accounted with', which are not standard usage in this context. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of verbs and nouns to describe data, such as 'allocated to', 'devoted to', or 'represented'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetitive phrasing and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, subject-verb agreement issues are present, such as 'the number of students... were highest' (should be 'was') and 'the number of students for relaxing... were lowest'. Additionally, some phrasing is awkward, such as 'stood for 8 students in UK' (missing the article 'the'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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