Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-01

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 shows the proportion of various degrees of injuries due to gun and knife crimes in the Great Britain from 1998 to 2007, and the percentage increase in each form of injury over the years.

Overall, The total number of the different degree of injuries increase throughout the timeline. While the number of serious and slight injuries show a steady increase, the fatal category increase intially but started declining after 2003. The final year only show fatal injuries with no record of the other form of crimes.

Firstly, the life-threatening injuries increased steadily till [redacted phone], with a total of 80 people suffereing from fatal wounds. The number faltered progressively and reached 58 victims in [redacted phone]. On the other hand, the other two types of injuries expereinced a steady incline throughout the nine years period, starting with 162 and 653 victims with serious and slight wounds respectively, and end with 476 seriously and 3296 slightly wounded from these voilent assults.

The total number of these crimes is not affected throughout the years. It shows a constant upward trend resulting in a total of 3821 victims in 2005 to 2006. The total percentages of these crimes are 342% out of which fatally wounded people constitute 18%, while serious and slight category contribute 194% and 405% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the table, such as the overall upward trend in total crimes and the varying trajectories of different injury degrees. However, some aspects are only partially addressed, and there are factual inaccuracies or misinterpretations of the data. For example, the student states that the fatal category 'started declining after 2003' and lists a final figure of 58 in 2006-2007, but misreads other parts of the data, such as claiming the final year only shows fatal injuries when the table simply lacks data for other categories in that specific row. Furthermore, the explanation of the percentage increases misinterprets the final data row by stating that 'total percentages of these crimes are 342%'. While an overview is attempted, the limited development and misinterpretation of specific statistical details prevent a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text is arranged into four paragraphs, showing some overall organisation with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding discussion of totals. However, progression is sometimes hindered by mechanical or faulty referencing and abrupt transitions. Words like 'Firstly' are used without a corresponding 'Secondly', making the structural framework feel disjointed. Cohesive devices are occasionally used inaccurately, and the links between sentences do not always create a smooth flow of ideas. Paragraphing is present, but the internal logical sequencing of information within the body paragraphs requires tighter control to ensure a clearer, more progressive narrative of the data.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as 'life-threatening', 'voilent' (spelling error for violent), and 'assults'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('suffereing', 'expereinced', 'voilent', 'assults') and minor word choice inaccuracies, such as 'proportion' instead of 'number' or 'quantity' at the beginning, since the table provides raw figures rather than percentages. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, the persistent slips in spelling and occasional awkward collocations mean that control over lexical items remains somewhat limited.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, attempting relative clauses and introductory phrases. However, there are frequent grammatical errors in verb forms, tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement. Examples include 'The total number of the different degree of injuries increase' (should be 'increases' and 'degrees'), 'the fatal category increase intially' (should be 'increased initially'), and 'the final year only show' (should be 'shows'). Additionally, prepositions are sometimes misused, as seen in 'over the years' versus 'throughout the nine years period'. These recurrent errors require some effort from the reader to untangle, though communication is generally maintained.

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

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