Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-06

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 past, present and projected future overweight rates in nine OECD countries.

Overall, the proportion of all countries increased and expected to rise in the projected future. USA rose sharply and remained on top while the lowest trend was for Korea.

USA, Australia, France and Korea showed significant changes. USA started at 45% in 1970, then dropped gradually at around 42% in 1980 and then rose sharply to approximately 75% till 2020. Australia with around 35% in start, ended at almost 65%. France had 30% in 1990 and went up to around 45% in 2020. Korea went up to 10% in two decades from 25% in 2000 to 35% in 2020.

Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Canada showed less fluctuation and gradually increased. Austria, Italy and France went up to more than 39% in 1980 (Austria), 30% in 1990 (France) and 38% in 1995 (Italy) to to 45% in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall trend and specific data points for the countries mentioned. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the description of Korea is confusing, stating it went up to 10% from 25% to 35%, which is mathematically unclear. Furthermore, the grouping of countries in the final paragraph is slightly disjointed, and the data points cited for Austria and Italy are difficult to follow. To improve, ensure that the data selected is accurate and that the comparison between countries is more clearly structured to highlight the most significant trends rather than listing individual figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition between the description of the USA and other countries could be smoother. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the internal flow within the third and fourth paragraphs is hindered by the way data is presented, making the relationships between the countries less clear to the reader. More varied linking words would improve the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends such as 'rose sharply', 'dropped gradually', and 'fluctuation'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'at start' instead of 'at the beginning' or 'at around'. The repetition of basic verbs like 'went up' and 'rose' limits the sophistication of the response. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate a wider variety of synonyms for describing trends and ensure more precise collocations when discussing statistical data.

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 errors, such as 'proportion of all countries increased and expected to rise' (missing 'is'), and 'to to 45%' (repetition error). Additionally, the sentence 'USA started at 45% in 1970, then dropped gradually at around 42% in 1980' lacks a preposition or clearer structure. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions with percentages would be beneficial.

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

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