Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-17

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 6.5)

This graph illustrates information regarding the percentages of men and women in Great Britain who held full driving licenses in 1975/1976 and 2006, on the basis of their age and sex.

Overall, it is clear that the percentage of people holding full driving licences increased in most age groups between the two years. Men generally had a higher proportion of licence holders than women, although the number of female licence holders increased considerably over the period.

Looking first at men, in 1975/76, approximately 35% of those aged 17–20 held a full driving licence. This figure increased to around 75% among people aged 21–29 and reached approximately 80% for the 30–39 and 40–49 age groups. It then decreased slightly to around 75% among those aged 50–59 and about 60% for people aged 60–69. Finally, the figure was roughly 30% among men aged 70 and over. In 2006, the figures were generally higher, with around 90% of men aged 50–69 holding a full driving licence.

As for women, the figures in 1975/76 were generally lower than those for men. Approximately 20% of women aged 17–20 had a full driving licence, while the figure was around 45% for those aged 21–29. It then increased to about 50% among women aged 30–39 before falling to around 40% for the 40–49 age group. The percentage was roughly 25% among those aged 50–59 and below 5% for women aged 70 and over. However, in 2006, there was a considerable increase, with around 80% of women aged 30–49 holding full driving licences. Even among women aged 70 and over, the figure rose to approximately 30%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and highlighting key trends and comparisons between age groups and sexes. For instance, the student notes that 'the percentage of people holding full driving licences increased in most age groups' and correctly points out that men generally had a higher proportion of holders than women. The data cited is mostly accurate according to the visual reference, such as noting around 35% for men aged 17-20 in 1975/76 and the significant rise in female drivers in 2006. While some minor figures are approximate, they remain faithful to the visual data. The response meets the task requirements well and presents a well-developed summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear progression from an introduction to an overall trend, followed by detailed body paragraphs for men and women respectively. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data, with phrases like 'Overall, it is clear that', 'Looking first at men', and 'As for women'. Paragraphing is used effectively, separating the general overview from the specific group breakdowns. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional linking could be smoother. Overall, the essay demonstrates a coherent and logical structure that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and mostly precise range of vocabulary suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Phrases such as 'percentages of men and women', 'proportion of licence holders', and 'considerably over the period' are used effectively. Less common vocabulary items like 'proportion', 'decrease slightly', and 'considerable increase' are integrated successfully. There are minor inaccuracies in word choice or phrasing, but these do not impede communication. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The student successfully employs subordinate clauses and relative structures, such as 'percentages of men and women in Great Britain who held full driving licenses' and 'approximately 35% of those aged 17-20 held a full driving licence.' Grammatical control is generally strong, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Minor slips occur, but punctuation and tense usage are handled with a good level of accuracy, supporting clear communication of the data.

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