Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-03

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The line graph below shows past and current overweight rates, as well as a projected future overweight rate in nine selected countries.

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

Past and projected future overweight rates in selected OECD countries

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The line graph illustrates the information about past and present overweight rates and a projected future overweight rate in nine different countries.

Overall, it is clear that the USA had the highest obese rate in all the years, while Korea had the lowest overweight rate compared with other countries.Moreover , overweight rate increased with the year in all nine countries.

To begin with the USA, the overweight proportion was almost 45 percent in 1970, whereas it was increased steadily and reached at 75 percent in 2020, which was the highest among all the countries.In England the overweight rate was 45 percent in the year of 1990 and then rose and reached at 70 percent in 2020.

Korea had the lowest obesity rate and it was only 25 % on 2000 and slightly increased in 20 years and it was 35 percent in 2020.Canada and Spain almost similar rate in 2020, which was 55 percent. Australia also rose gradually and reached 65 percent in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview. You selected key data points to support your descriptions, such as the USA's peak and Korea's low. However, the task asks for 'past, current, and projected' rates, but your response focuses almost exclusively on the past and 2020. You missed the opportunity to discuss the 'projected future' aspect mentioned in the prompt, which is a key feature of the graph. To reach a higher band, ensure you explicitly mention the future projections for the countries shown, as this is a core requirement of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Overall' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical, and the connection between sentences could be smoother. For example, the jump between discussing Canada, Spain, and Australia in the final paragraph feels slightly abrupt. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') and varying your linking words would help the flow of the essay feel more natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'steadily', and 'gradually'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, you use 'obese rate' and 'overweight rate' interchangeably, though they are distinct medical terms. Additionally, phrases like 'reached at 75 percent' are incorrect; the correct usage is 'reached 75 percent'. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology and ensuring that your collocations are accurate, which will help you achieve a higher score for lexical precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Common issues include incorrect preposition usage (e.g., 'reached at', 'on 2000') and tense inconsistencies. For example, 'it was increased' should be 'it increased' (active voice). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions with data points to improve your accuracy.

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

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