Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The table shows the number of fatal, serious and slight injuries resulting from gun and knife crime in Great Britain from 1998 to 2007 and the percentage increase for each degree of injury over the period.

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

Great Britain - Gun and Knife Crime statistics - 1998-2007

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The table illustrates the number of gun and knife crime victims in Great Britain between 1998–1999 and 2006–2007, classified according to the degree of injury, namely fatal, serious and slight.

Overall, the total number of victims increased considerably during the period. Slight injuries accounted for the largest proportion throughout the years, while fatal injuries remained the least common. Serious and slight injuries generally rose, although fatal cases fluctuated.

In 1998–1999, there were 864 victims in total, including 49 fatal cases, 162 serious injuries and 653 slight injuries. The total then increased steadily to 2,367 in 2003–2004. During the same period, serious injuries climbed from 162 to 437, while slight injuries almost tripled from 653 to 1,862. Fatal injuries also rose, reaching a peak of 95 in 2001–2002 before falling to 68 in 2003–2004.

The number of victims increased sharply to 3,912 in 2004–2005, mainly because slight injuries jumped to 3,424. In the following year, the total dropped slightly to 3,821 as slight injuries decreased to 3,296, although serious injuries reached their highest level of 476. In 2006–2007, only the figure for fatal injuries was available, standing at 58, while the remaining data were not provided.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You accurately highlighted the significant increase in slight injuries and the relative stability of fatal cases compared to others. The inclusion of specific data points, such as the peak in 2003-2004 and the sharp rise in 2004-2005, demonstrates a good grasp of the information. You also correctly noted the limitation in the data for 2006-2007. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention the percentage increases provided in the prompt, as these are key features of the data set that were overlooked.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear focus: the introduction, the overview, and the detailed breakdown of the data. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In 1998-1999', 'During the same period', and 'In the following year', which help the reader follow the timeline of the statistics. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data description task. Phrases like 'accounted for the largest proportion', 'fluctuated', and 'climbed' are used accurately. You avoid repetition and maintain a formal, academic tone throughout. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or synonyms for 'increase' (e.g., 'surged', 'escalated') would further enhance the lexical variety and precision of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your grammar is generally strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You handle the reporting of statistics with accuracy, and your use of punctuation is correct. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with more complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses (e.g., 'resulting in a total of...') or more varied subordinating conjunctions to link your ideas even more fluidly.

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

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