Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-06

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 how the proportion of overweight population in nine countries has changed since 1970 and predicts the future rate.

Overall, a general rise in overweight percentage can be seen across all countries. While the change is minimal for some countries, others have recorded a sharp spike.

USA accounts for the greatest overweight proportion initially, standing at 45% in 1970. By 2020, the figure is expected to hover around 75%. Similarly, England and Australia follow with a sharp increase in percentage over the next period.

Austria, France and Italy demonstrate a slightly stable increase and stand almost equal in 2020. They have a less steeper increase identical to Korea.

Spain and Austria on the other hand, recorded a dip in overweight rate in one year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main trend of rising overweight rates, the analysis is incomplete. You have not provided sufficient data points or detailed comparisons between the nine countries mentioned in the graph. The overview is present but lacks the necessary detail to fully satisfy the requirements of an Academic Task 1. To improve, ensure you include more specific data points for each country and provide a more comprehensive comparison of the trends across the entire period, rather than focusing only on a few selected nations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and repetitive. For example, you use 'Similarly' and 'on the other hand' to link ideas, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the lack of depth due to the short length makes the overall flow feel somewhat disjointed. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects back to the overall trend.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used some appropriate vocabulary related to trends, such as 'sharp spike', 'hover around', and 'proportion'. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'less steeper', which is grammatically incorrect (it should be 'less steep'). To reach a higher band, aim to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe data, such as 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'a marginal increase', and ensure that your collocations are natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, 'USA accounts for' should be 'The USA accounts for', and 'less steeper' is an incorrect comparative form. Additionally, there are some issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical errors and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or passive voice, while ensuring they remain error-free.

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

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