Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-11-03

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 students average weekdays in three different countries-UK, Japan, Germany.

Overall, japan accounts for largest proportion of studying, while relaxation accounts for smallest porportion. However, Uk shows the higest figures of sleeping.

On an average weekday, japan accounts for largest proportion of studying that is 13%, Germany and Uk have a difference of 1% point that is Germany at 9% , while Uk at 8%. In terms of relaxing Uk and Germany are at same level 7%, in contrast Japan has the lowest figure across the chat in Relaxing that is just 4%.

Sleeping is accountable for highest percentage in Uk that is 8.5%, whereas Germany is only half percent point below Uk that is 8%. Japan accounts for 7% in sleeping, which is the smallest figure across three counties.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrasts accurately: Japan has the most study time (13 hours), the UK and Germany spend equal time relaxing (7 hours), and the UK records the most sleep (8.5 hours). The overview also selects relevant features. However, the response is under the required 150 words, and the report is not fully developed: it gives figures for all three activities but offers little broader comparison or explanation of the overall pattern. Some wording also misrepresents the chart’s units: these are hours, not percentages, so phrases such as “13%” and “highest percentage” are inaccurate. Include a fuller overview and compare the countries’ daily allocations using the correct unit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs covering studying/relaxing and sleeping. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. You also use contrast markers such as “while” and “whereas” to connect comparisons. However, progression is somewhat mechanical, with repeated openings such as “Japan accounts for” and “In terms of.” The second body paragraph covers only sleeping, while the earlier paragraph combines two activities, so the organisation could be more balanced. Grouping the information consistently by activity or by country, and using clearer references between comparisons, would make the report flow more smoothly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart-reporting vocabulary, including “illustrates,” “accounts for,” “in contrast,” and “whereas,” and the intended comparisons are generally understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward for describing time data. “Proportion” and “percentage” suggest shares rather than hours, and “accounts for largest proportion of studying” is an unnatural collocation. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “porportion,” “higest,” “chat” (apparently intended as “chart”), and “counties.” Use precise terms such as “hours spent studying” and “the highest figure,” and proofread spelling and collocations to improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including comparisons with “while,” “whereas,” and “which,” and most of the data relationships can be understood. Some grammatical errors remain, however. The opening phrase “The students average weekdays” needs a possessive form, and “japan accounts for largest proportion” is missing an article. In “Germany and Uk have a difference of 1% point,” the construction is awkward and the singular/plural form is not controlled. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the opening sentence and around the dash. Aim for accurate article use, possessives, and complete comparison structures; for example, “Germany’s figure is one hour higher than the UK’s.”

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

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