Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-30
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)
The bar graph illustrates the percentage of men and women in different age groups who hold a full driving licence in Great Britain in 1975/76 and 2006.
Overall, the percentage of people holding a full driving licence increased rapidly between 1975/76 and 2006. Men have a higher rate of having a full driving licence ownership than women, especially in the older age group section. However, the difference between men and women was lower among young people.
In 1975/76, men were more likely to hold a driving licence in almost every age group. The highest number for men were seen among the 40–49 and 50–59 age groups, while the lowest percentage was among the youngest group, aged 17–20. Among women, licence ownership was considerably lower, particularly among older age groups.
By 2006, the percentage had risen for both genders across nearly all age groups. Men aged 40–69 had particularly high levels, with around nine in ten holding a licence. Women also showed a significant increase, reaching their highest levels among those aged 30–59.
Overall, the most noticeable change was the large increase in female licence holders, which reduced the gender gap considerably by 2006.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The response successfully satisfies the requirements of Academic Task 1 by providing a clear overview and selecting the main features of the charts. The student notes the general upward trend between 1975/76 and 2006, highlights gender disparities, and mentions peak age groups. Key data points such as the 40-49 and 50-59 age brackets for men and the significant growth in female license holders are accurately reported and compared. The summary covers all parts of the visual data well without unnecessary raw data listing. Ideas are well developed and supported with appropriate comparisons, aligning strongly with the Band 7 criteria.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The text is logically organised with a clear progression. It opens with an introductory paraphrase of the prompt, followed by a concise overall summary, body paragraphs detailing specific trends by year and gender, and a concluding thought that ties the findings together. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'Overall', 'However', 'In 1975/76', and 'By 2006', which help guide the reader smoothly through the response. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different time periods and analytical focuses, demonstrating a clear logical structure that fits the Band 7 descriptor.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for task 1, successfully utilizing terms such as 'percentage', 'genders', 'licence ownership', and 'gender gap'. There are some successful less common items and phrasing like 'considerably lower' and 'noticeable change'. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as 'a higher rate of having a full driving licence ownership' which is slightly awkward and repetitive. Nevertheless, the range of vocabulary is sufficient for precision and flexibility, supporting a solid Band 6.5 or 7.0 performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses and temporal markers ('While the highest number...', 'By 2006, the percentage had risen...'). Grammatical control is generally quite good, with numerous error-free sentences. Minor slips occur, such as 'The highest number for men were seen' (where 'number' refers to a percentage, making 'was' more appropriate) and the slight clunkiness in 'rate of having a full driving licence ownership'. Overall, complex structures are attempted with reasonable accuracy, fitting the Band 7 profile.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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