Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The bar chart below shows the average number of hours that women in various age groups and women with varying levels of education spend on primary activities each week.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Average hours per week women spent in selected primary activities, by age and educational attainment, 2009

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The given horizontal charts depicts the information about the average number of hours that women in various age groups and with varying levels of education spend on primary activities each week. The data has been calibrated into ratio.

Overall, it is crystal clear that the highest percentage in the age group of 75 and above is for leisure & sports whereas, in education spend the lowest level is for less than high school diploma in working & work related activities.

At a fleeting glance, the highest percentile is for the age group 75 & above which is 51.7 in leisure & sports while, the lowest ratio is for the working and work related activities in the age group of 75 & above which is 1.3. However, in the age group of 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 the working & work related activities and leisure & sports are approximately similar with the ratio of 27.

Moving further, the educational attainment of age group of 25 & over the highest and lowest percentile is for less than a high school diploma in working and work related and leisure activities which is 10.7 and 43.1 approximately. Whereas, the percentage for household activities remains similar to 16 in three educational attainments which are high school graduates, no college and some college and bachelor's degree & higher.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the data and provided relevant comparisons. However, your interpretation of the data is occasionally inaccurate. For instance, you refer to the data as 'percentages' and 'ratios' throughout the text, whereas the chart clearly measures 'average hours'. This misinterpretation of the units of measurement significantly impacts the accuracy of your reporting. While you cover the age groups and educational attainment categories, the lack of precision regarding the actual units (hours) means the task is not fully addressed in terms of accuracy. To improve, ensure you carefully read the axis labels and titles before drafting your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'At a fleeting glance', and 'Moving further' to guide the reader. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical or unnatural in an academic context. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for example, in the third paragraph, you mention 'the ratio of 27' without clearly linking it back to the specific categories or units. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that pronouns or references clearly point to their antecedents would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'educational attainment', 'calibrated', and 'percentile'. However, there are consistent issues with word choice and collocation. You frequently use 'percentile' or 'percentage' when the data represents 'hours'. Furthermore, 'calibrated into ratio' is an inaccurate description of the data presentation. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, the misuse of statistical terminology limits your score. To reach a higher band, focus on using precise terminology that accurately reflects the data provided in the prompt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The given horizontal charts depicts' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'in education spend the lowest level is' (awkward phrasing). You also have issues with preposition usage and article placement. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentence structures are grammatically sound. Proofreading for basic errors like pluralization and verb forms will help you achieve a higher score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.