Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-21
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 5.5)
The table illustrates the distribution of accidents from three different categories namely fatal, serious and slight between 1998 and 2007. Overall, the the total injuries grew from 864 between from 1998 to just over 3900 in 2006. Mainly there were slight injuries with serious at the middle and fatal recording the least except between [redacted phone] where only major incidents were recorded.
Slight injuries consistently grew between 1998 and 2004 before it jumped from 1862 to 3424 in 2005. This year marked the most injuries during the whole period. Furthermore, serious category rose between 1998 to 2003 before declining in 2005. This was the same case with fatal accidents where the figures increased between 1998 to 2005 and then decreased in 2006 before it picked in 2007. Surprisingly, there were no serious and slightly accidents recorded in 1007 despite high numbers recorded in the previous year.
Minor injuries recorded the highest percentage increase of 405 followed by serious accidents with 194% and lastly fatal accidents with only 18%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall trends and the percentage increases. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the interpretation of the data. For instance, you mention that 'only major incidents were recorded' in 2006-2007 and that there were 'no serious and slightly accidents recorded in 1007' (likely a typo for 2007). These statements contradict the provided table, which shows data for all categories in those years. While you identify the main trends, the failure to accurately report the data points leads to a lower score for task achievement as the information provided is factually incorrect based on the source material.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for trends, and a concluding summary of percentages. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Overall', and 'Lastly' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally hindered by confusing statements, such as the claim about 2007 data. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the description of trends and the percentage summary is a bit abrupt. Overall, the structure is functional, but the logical flow is occasionally disrupted by the misinterpretation of the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'distribution', 'consistently', 'declining', and 'percentage increase'. There are some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'picked in 2007' (likely meaning 'peaked') and 'slightly accidents' (should be 'slight accidents'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the general intent, they indicate a lack of precision. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more accurate terminology for describing statistical trends and ensuring that word forms are used correctly in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('slight injuries... before it jumped'), tense inconsistencies, and minor punctuation errors. The phrase 'the the total' is a repetitive slip. While you attempt to use complex sentences, the accuracy is inconsistent. The errors are noticeable but do not completely impede communication. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical errors and ensuring that your verb tenses remain consistent when describing historical data over a specific period.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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