Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-16

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 bar chart illustrates the proportion of men and women having full driving permits in Great Britain in the year 1975 and 2006.

Overall, the share of people holding licences has increased for both the genders, while a higher percentage change is observed in the females' licenses over the period of time. A notable point is that in 1975-76 men of age group 21-29 had more licence compared to 2026.

On the one hand, in the year 1975/76, the proportion of people having licence untill the age group of 39, where male from age 30-39 have the highest share by 85 percent and females peaked at around 50 percent, and numbers decrease significantly for the later age group by hiting the lowest point for age group of 70 and over for both genders.

On the other hand, in the year 2006, the share of males having license increased for the age group 17 to 60 and for females 17 to 50; however, percentages decreased again for the older age groups, where females hit the lowest for above 70.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that licence ownership rose for both sexes, and you make relevant comparisons between age groups and years. However, several details are inaccurate or unclear: the chart compares 1975/76 with 2006, not 2026, and the highest male figure in 1975/76 was about 81% among 40–49-year-olds, rather than 85% for ages 30–39. The overview also overstates the pattern: ownership did not rise in every age group, as men aged 21–29 fell from about 78% to 70%. Your account of the 2006 figures is broad and omits useful comparisons, such as the high levels for middle-aged men and women. Select the main trends more precisely and support them with accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs organised by year. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” signal the shift between periods. However, the progression within the paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow. For example, “the proportion of people having licence untill the age group of 39” does not clearly explain which age groups or sexes are being compared, and the overview’s reference to “2026” disrupts the comparison. The contrast markers also feel mechanical rather than showing precise relationships. Grouping the data by sex or by age pattern, and using clearer links such as “by contrast” and “whereas,” would make the comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “share,” “increased,” “decrease,” and “lowest point,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “A notable point.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “full driving permits” is less suitable than “full driving licences,” “higher percentage change” is unclear, and “females’ licenses” is not a natural way to describe the proportion of women holding licences. Spelling and form errors, including “untill,” “hiting,” and “license” where British English uses “licence” as a noun, are noticeable. Use consistent chart terminology and practise natural combinations such as “the proportion of women holding a licence” and “the figure peaked at.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a contrast clause in “the share of males … increased …; however, percentages decreased again.” This shows some ability to connect ideas, but control is uneven. The sentence beginning “in the year 1975/76, the proportion of people having licence untill the age group of 39” is incomplete or structurally unclear, and the following clause beginning “where male from age 30-39” does not form a clear grammatical comparison. There are also errors with articles and number, as in “had more licence,” and the final sentence’s “females hit the lowest” lacks a clear grammatical subject for the figure. Build shorter, complete comparison sentences first, then add subordinate clauses; check articles, plurals, and subject–verb relationships.

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