Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graphs below show the percentage of people holding full driving licences in Great Britain by age and sex.

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

Full car driving licence holders: by sex and age

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The diagrams compare men and women driving licence holders of seven different age groups during 1975/76 and 2006. Overall, the proportion of men who owned driving licences outnumbered their female counterparts.

During 1975/76 men aged 50-59 recorded the highest driving licence ownership rate of about 90%, while the women's side peaked at around 80% in the 40-49 age group. Men aged 60-69, 40-49, 30-39 follows behind with relatively comparable figures ranging from approximately 85% to 88%. Similarly, women aged 30-39, 50-59 follow this trend with figures of approximately 78% and 75%. The 17-20 age group saw the lowesr ownership percentage of around 38% for men, while for women it was the 70 and up, with a value of around 25%.

In 2006 men peaked in age group 30-39 with value of 85%. Meanwhile for women it was the age group 40-49 at 80

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified some main features and made comparisons, the response is incomplete; it cuts off abruptly in the second paragraph before covering the full data set or providing a concluding summary. To achieve a higher band, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed, including a clear overview and a complete analysis of the data provided. The current response is underdeveloped and lacks the necessary depth to fully satisfy the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. You use some cohesive devices like 'Meanwhile' and 'Similarly', which help link ideas, but the overall structure is undermined by the sudden ending. To improve, ensure that your paragraphs are balanced and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your comparisons more fluidly. The lack of a concluding summary also affects the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'outnumbered', and 'comparable figures'. However, there are some minor errors, such as 'lowesr' (spelling) and 'women's side' (which is slightly informal/unnatural in this context). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure your spelling is accurate. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'During 1975/76 men aged 50-59 recorded the highest driving licence ownership rate of about 90%'. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'Men aged 60-69... follows behind' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'with value of 85%' (missing article). While these errors do not generally impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage to improve your accuracy.

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

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