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 provides information about gun and knife crime resulting in number of fatal, serious and slight injuries in Great Britain as well as proportion increased for each injury from 1998 to 2007.

Overall, the total number of injuries was maximum in [redacted phone] whereas minimum in [redacted phone]. Slight injuries were considerably more than fatal and serious one. The percentage of each injury also increased significantly over the given period.

Among 864 injuries in [redacted phone], 49 of them were fatal, 162 were serious and 653 were slight injuries. This number rose to 1195 in [redacted phone], and among them, 62 were fatal followed by 200 serious and 933 slight injuries. The number of injuries kept increasing from 2000 to 2007. In [redacted phone], 58 fatal injuries were recorded with no record of serious and slight injuries.

From 1998/99 to 2005/06, fatal injuries increased by 18%, serious injuries by 194% and slight injuries by 405%. This resulted in increase in total injury by 342% over the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the table, including the trends in injury types and the percentage increases. However, the analysis is flawed in the final paragraph. You state that there was 'no record of serious and slight injuries' in 2006-2007, which is a misinterpretation of the data provided in the prompt's image. Furthermore, the summary of percentage increases is somewhat mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are interpreted accurately and that comparisons are more insightful rather than just listing numbers sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Among', and 'From... to...' are used to guide the reader. However, the transition between the general overview and the specific data points is slightly abrupt. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to connect the trends across the different years rather than relying on simple chronological reporting.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'recorded', and 'significantly'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'proportion increased' instead of 'percentage increase' and 'total injury' instead of 'total number of injuries'. The phrasing 'serious one' is also grammatically incorrect and stylistically weak. Expanding your range to include more precise academic collocations would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'was maximum' (should be 'reached its maximum'), 'serious one' (should be 'serious ones'), and 'resulted in increase in total injury' (missing articles). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the control over articles and pluralization needs more attention to reach the 7.0 band level.

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

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