Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-25

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.

Overall, the bar graph shows the percentages of three crimes including Burglary, Car crime and Voilent crime. All three types of crimes have greater precieved percentages than actual crime over the period of three years.

In 2009/2010, the precieved percentages of Burglary and Voilent crime recorded just over 15% and Car crime above 20%, while the actual percentages of all three crimes fluctautes below 5%.

In 2010/2011, the precieved percentages of Burglary and Voilent crime was approximately 13% and Car crime almost 16%,while the actual percentages of all three crimes fluctautes below 5% as previous year.

In conclusion, all three types of crimes have greater precieved percentages than actual crime throughout the period of [redacted phone]. Among all three crimes, the percentages of Car crime was greater whether it was precieved or actual as compared to other two crimes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s main contrast: perceived likelihood is much higher than actual likelihood for all three crime types, and you compare the two periods. The figures for 2009/10 are broadly accurate, and you note that actual rates remain below 5%. However, the overview is incomplete: car crime is highest in both measures, but the perceived figures fall in 2010/11 while actual figures rise slightly; these changes are not clearly highlighted. The final claim that car crime is highest “whether it was perceived or actual” is supported, but the report needs more precise comparisons and coverage of the small actual-rate changes. The response is 142 words, below the required 150, and therefore does not meet the minimum length.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, period-by-period paragraphs and a concluding statement. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. However, the conclusion largely repeats the overview rather than adding a useful comparison, and the two detail paragraphs follow almost identical patterns, so progression is limited. Some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “In 2009/2010” and “In 2010/2011,” while “as previous year” does not connect the comparison clearly. The overview and conclusion also repeat the same general point about perceived rates exceeding actual rates. Grouping the perceived figures together and then comparing actual figures, or explicitly describing the changes between years, would create a clearer progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentages,” “actual,” “perceived” and “approximately,” and the crime categories are generally clear. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling errors affect the presentation: “Voilent,” “precieved” and “fluctautes.” The phrase “greater perceived percentages” is awkward, and “the percentages of Car crime was greater” is not a natural way to express the comparison. Repeated use of “percentages” and “crimes” also makes the report less precise. Use standard forms such as “perceived likelihood” and “actual rate,” and choose verbs such as “declined,” “remained” or “increased slightly” to describe the data. These changes would make the vocabulary more accurate and varied.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Your sentences communicate the broad comparisons, and you attempt both simple statements and longer clauses. However, grammatical control is inconsistent. For example, “the perceived percentages … was approximately 13%” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “the actual percentages … fluctuates” uses an incorrect verb form and tense. In “the percentages of Car crime was greater,” the plural subject also requires a plural verb. The phrase “as previous year” is missing an article, and the comma spacing in “16%,while” needs correction. Most sentences use similar basic patterns, so the range remains limited. Practise accurate agreement and past-tense reporting, then vary sentence structures to compare changes across the two periods.

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