Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-17

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 chart illustrates previous and recent overweight rates, as well as a projected future overweight rate in nine selected countries.

Overall, it is evident that the all selected OECD countries overweight rate increased over the 50-year period. Notably, the USA and Australia witnessed the most significant changes from 1990 to 2020.

To begin with, the overweight rates in the USA stood at more than 45% in 1970, which followed a increasing trend until the end, reaching nearly 75%. In contrast, overweight rates of Korea started at about 10% in 2000, which slowly increased to roughly 35% in 2020. In addition, the figure for England, Spain, France, and Australia accounted for 48%, 42%, 32%, and 30%, respectively, in 1990. Then, the three countries showed an upward trend at the end of the period, reached to approximately 70%, 55%, 64%, and 45%, respectively, in 2020.

When it comes to Canade stood at around 50% in 1992, which steadily increased to roughly 55% in the last year. In case of Italy, this figure started at approximately 38% in 1993, which slightly increased to about 45% in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad upward pattern and highlight the USA and Australia, which are relevant features. However, the overview is too general: saying that rates rose in “all selected” countries overlooks fluctuations, and the claim that the USA and Australia changed most is not clearly supported across the full period. Several details are inaccurate or confusing: Korea begins at about 25% in 1998, not 10% in 2000; the 1990 figures for England, Spain, France and Australia do not match the chart; and the sentence giving their 2020 figures says “three countries” although it lists four. The USA’s starting figure is also closer to 45% than “more than 45%.” Select a few accurate comparisons and distinguish historical data from projections.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable introduction, overview and detail paragraphs, and phrases such as “Overall,” “In contrast” and “In addition” help signal relationships. However, progression within the detail paragraph is difficult to follow: several countries and years are compressed into one sentence, and “Then” does not clearly indicate which period or countries are being compared. The reference “the three countries” is unclear because four countries are listed, while the final paragraph begins abruptly with Canada and Italy. Organise the details into clearer groups—for example, the highest-rate countries and the lower-rate countries—and use separate sentences to make each comparison explicit. This would improve the flow and reduce the impression of a list.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “overweight rates,” “upward trend,” “steadily increased” and “approximately,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language, such as “witnessed the most significant changes.” Some choices are inaccurate or awkward, however: “accounted for” is not the most natural verb for reporting a rate, and “reached to” is an unsuitable collocation. “Previous and recent” does not capture the projected aspect as precisely as “historical and projected.” Spelling also affects the presentation in “Canade.” Aim for precise verbs such as “stood at,” “rose to” and “is projected to reach,” and check country names carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple statements and longer clauses, including sentences with “which” and contrastive linking, so there is some structural variety. However, several complex sentences are not controlled accurately. For example, “the all selected OECD countries overweight rate increased” has faulty word order, and “which followed a increasing trend” contains an article error and an unclear clause structure. In “Then, the three countries showed an upward trend at the end of the period, reached to…,” the verb sequence is incomplete or incorrectly formed. The Canada sentence also lacks a clear grammatical subject after “When it comes to.” Use shorter sentences when presenting multiple figures, and check subject–verb structure, articles and verb forms before combining clauses.

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