Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-04
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 represents that the number of fatal, serious and slight injuries resulting from gun and knife crime in Great Britain between 1998 and 2007. The table shows the percentage increase in each degree of crime injuries over the years.
In general, the total number of crime injuries as well as individual type of injuries have been increased multiple folds over the period. Total nine years data is available; however, the last year serious, slight and total injury data is unavailable.
The total percentage in crime increases to 342% including 18%, 194% and 405% increase in fatal, serious and slight injuries respectively. The fatal injuries increase-[redacted phone], then decreases to 49 2006 and reach 58 in 2007. The serious injuries increases in a stable steady trend, whereas, the slight crimes rises from 653 -[redacted phone] to 3424 in 2005 then slide down to 3296 in 2006. The total number of crimes multiplied between [redacted phone] and decreased to 3821 in 2006.
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 specific figures for fatal, serious, and slight injuries. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the most significant trends. While the percentage increases are mentioned, the explanation of the data is occasionally confusing, particularly regarding the missing data points. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the data more logically and providing a more insightful overview that highlights the most striking differences between the crime categories rather than simply listing figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'In general' is used appropriately, but the flow between sentences within the body paragraph is disjointed. Some sentences feel like a list of statistics rather than a cohesive analysis. Improving the use of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in contrast' would help create a smoother progression of ideas and improve the overall logical flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. You rely on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'decreased' repeatedly. While the terminology related to the task (fatal, serious, slight injuries) is accurate, there is little attempt to use less common lexical items or collocations to describe trends. For instance, instead of 'increased multiple folds,' a more precise academic phrase would be 'experienced a significant surge.' Expanding your vocabulary to include more varied descriptors for trends will help elevate your score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'The table represents that the number... resulting from...' is grammatically incorrect, and there are issues with tense consistency and article usage. Additionally, punctuation errors, such as the misuse of hyphens in 'increase-1998-2003', detract from the professional tone. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately without missing prepositions or auxiliary verbs.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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