Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-24
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 bar graph illustrates the perceived danger and actual likelihood of being a victim of crime, namely burglary, car crime, violent crime. These figures are measured in percentages. Overall, car crime recorded the highest figures, whereas burglary and violent crime had the lowest figures. It is noticeable that burglary and violent crime presented almost the same figures, with car crime experianced a significant increase.
Looking first at burglary, the figure for perceived crime stood at 15% in 2009/10, while actual crime stood at 2% in the same year. Although the figure for car crime represented the highest proportion at 21% in 2009/10, whereas actual crime of car remained constant at 4% in 2009/10 and 2010/11. Looking at violent crime, the figure for perceived crime stood at about 16% in 2009/10, while actual crime stood at around 4% in the same year. Overall, the perceived figures were consistently much higher than the actual figures for all three types of crime.
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 student successfully identifies the main features of the chart, noting that perceived danger is consistently much higher than actual likelihood across all three crime types. Key data points are cited, such as the highest figures for car crime (21% perceived in 2009/10) and comparisons are made. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and generalisations in the data reporting. For instance, the student states that the actual crime of car remained constant at 4% (the visual shows 4.5%), and states violent crime perceived was about 16% (the visual shows 15.5%). Additionally, the overview contains a contradictory statement saying burglary and violent crime had the lowest figures, yet car crime recorded the highest, while also stating burglary and violent crime presented almost the same figures. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, but precision in data reporting prevents a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a clear overall progression, beginning with an introduction and a high-level overview, followed by body details and a concluding summary sentence. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the specific details. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Looking first at', 'while', and 'Although', but cohesion is sometimes mechanical or clunky, particularly in complex comparative structures like 'Although the figure for car crime represented the highest proportion at 21% in 2009/10, whereas actual crime of car remained constant...'. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical link between clauses in the second paragraph occasionally breaks down.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, incorporating terms such as 'perceived danger', 'actual likelihood', 'proportion', and 'constant'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'experianced' (spelling error for 'experienced'), 'actual crime of car' instead of 'actual car crime', and repetitive phrasing. Less common lexical items are attempted, but control is inconsistent. While communication is not impeded, the presence of word choice errors and spelling slips keeps this within the Band 6 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing subordinate clauses ('while actual crime stood at 2%'). However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are issues with sentence structure and incomplete clauses, such as in the sentence beginning with 'Although the figure for car crime...', which lacks a main clause and is grammatically incomplete. Other minor slips occur, such as spelling 'experianced'. The majority of simpler sentences are error-free, but complex structures frequently contain errors or awkward phrasing, placing this firmly at Band 6.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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