Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The graph below shows the perceived danger and actual likelihood of being a victim of crime.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Perceived and actual likelihood of being a victim of crime: by crime type
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The graph compares the perceived danger and actual likelihood of being a victim of crime for the years 2009 and 2010. The crimes are burglary, car crime, and violent crime.
Overall, the perceived danger of being a victim of crime was significantly higher in every crime type for both years. While the percentages for an actual victim to perceived risk ratio had a substantial difference, as being an actual victim had a much lower percentage compared to perceiving to be one.
21% of people perceived being a victim of car crimes in 2009 compared to the 16% in 2010. Similarly, in 2009 more people perceived themselves as being a victim of burglary and violent crimes than in 2010 by approximately 2.5%.
The percentage of being involved in an actual crime was almost equal for both years being slightly less than 5% for car crimes, 2.5% for violent crimes and burglary.
In conclusion, the percentage for perceived danger of being a victim of crime was higher in 2009, whereas the percentage for actually being a victim was less than perceived risk, however, the percentage of actually being in a crime stayed even throughout different crimes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a clear overview and identifies the main trends, such as the disparity between perceived and actual crime rates. However, the data reporting is somewhat imprecise. For instance, you mention 'approximately 2.5%' for the difference in perception, but the graph shows more specific variations. Additionally, while you mention the actual crime rates are 'almost equal', you could have provided more precise figures for each category (e.g., burglary vs. violent crime) to better support your summary. The task requires a more detailed comparison of the specific data points provided in the graph to fully satisfy the 'reporting the main features' requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, overview, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'Similarly' and 'In conclusion' are used correctly, but the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the perceived and actual data could be more tightly linked to improve the flow of the argument. Overall, the structure is functional and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'perceived danger', 'actual likelihood', and 'substantial difference'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'actual victim to perceived risk ratio' is slightly awkward, and 'stayed even' is not the most precise way to describe stable data. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained consistent', or 'a significant discrepancy'. The current range is sufficient but lacks the precision required for a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips. For instance, 'the percentage of being involved in an actual crime' is slightly unidiomatic; 'the likelihood of being involved' would be more accurate. There are also minor issues with preposition usage and article placement, such as 'stayed even throughout different crimes'. Despite these errors, the grammar does not impede communication, and the sentence structures are varied enough to convey the intended information effectively.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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