Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-16

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 data on fatal, serious and slight injuries resulting from Gun and knife crime in Great Britain and percentage increase for each degree of injury over the period from 1998 to 2007.

Overall, slight injury from gun and knife were among the highest. Similarly, the crimes in the early times were much lower compared to latter. Fatal injuries were recorded relatively lower than serious or slight ones.

The fatal injuries from knife and guns increased gradually from 49 in 1988 to 95 in 2002. The number dropped gradually and recorded only 58 injuries by the end of the period. In contrast, serious and slight injuries were increased gradually through out the period. Serious harm initially accounted 162 victims, which went up to 437 in [redacted phone] before dropping to 411 in the next year. The number increased to 476 recorded injury. Slight injuries were among the most common which increased dramatically from 864 in 1999 to 3821 in 2007.

The crime rate was highest in the year [redacted phone] with 3912 injuries reported, where as [redacted phone] recorded the lowest. Fatal, serious and slight injuries increased by 18%, 194% and 405%, respectively. The total percentage surge by the end of the period was 342%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main pattern that injury totals rose over time and correctly report the peak total of 3,912 in 2004–05 and the percentage increases. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: fatal injuries rose from 49 in 1998–99 to 95 in 2001–02, not from 1988, and then fluctuated rather than declining gradually. The slight-injury figures are also misreported: 864 is the total for 1998–99, while slight injuries were 653; 3,821 is the total for 2005–06, while slight injuries were 3,296. The overview is relevant but broad, and the final year has fatal data only. More precise comparisons and careful separation of injury categories would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing trends and percentage changes. This helps the reader follow the general subject. However, progression is uneven because figures for different categories and the total are sometimes mixed together, particularly when 864 and 3,821 are described as slight injuries. Some linking is also mechanical or unclear, as in “Similarly” and “In contrast,” where the relationship between the points is not fully established. The final paragraph repeats the overall rise and adds figures without clearly grouping them. Organise the body by category or by overall totals, and use references such as “this figure” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “fatal injuries,” “accounted,” “recorded,” “increased dramatically,” and “percentage surge.” These choices allow you to describe changes and compare categories, and the meaning is generally clear. Some word combinations are imprecise or unnatural, however: “slight injury from gun and knife,” “the crimes in the early times,” and “the total percentage surge” do not express the data as clearly as standard chart language would. There is also repetition of “injuries” and “increased.” Aim for precise terms such as “number of cases,” “rose,” “fell,” and “fluctuated,” while ensuring that the wording distinguishes injury counts from total figures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons introduced by “whereas” and clauses beginning with “which.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “serious and slight injuries were increased” uses an unnecessary passive form; “serious harm initially accounted 162 victims” needs a different verb pattern; and “The total percentage surge by the end” lacks a finite verb. Articles and prepositions are also inconsistent, as in “from 49 in 1988 to 95 in 2002.” Check that each sentence has a complete verb and use consistent past-tense forms. More accurate control of these patterns would make the data easier to interpret.

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