Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-11-02

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 a comparison of gun and knife crime statistics that resulted in death, severe and minor injuries between 1998 and 2007 and the percentage increase for each sector of injury over the relevent period. It also shows the total number of affected individuals.

There is an increasing trend in the fatal category from 1998 till 2002, in serious and slightly injured category from 1998 to 2006. The total number of people increased over time however, there is a decline in the fatal category. This ultimately shows that the crime rate has been controlled over time.

[redacted phone] is the period with a least number of fatal, serious and slightly injured individuals with 49, 162 and 653 persons respectively that automatically leads to an overall total of 864 effected people.

Moreover, the percentage increase of fatal people is 18% which is the least among all other categories. Serious and slightly injured category showed a percentage increase of 194% and 405% respectively. While total percentage increase is 342% over this period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the table’s subject, give the starting figures, and report the percentage increases accurately. However, the overview is incomplete and includes an unsupported conclusion: “the crime rate has been controlled over time” is not demonstrated by the figures. The fatal category rises to 95 in 2001–02, then fluctuates, rather than simply declining; serious injuries generally rise to 476 by 2005–06, while slight injuries surge to 3,424 in 2004–05 before falling slightly. The response also omits these important later figures and does not explain the overall total’s sharp rise and subsequent dip. To make the summary more complete, select and compare the main peaks, changes and overall pattern, while avoiding claims about causes or crime control.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs giving figures and percentage changes. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. However, progression is limited because the overview repeats broad trends without developing them, and the final paragraph shifts to percentage increases without a clear link to the preceding figures. Connectors such as “Moreover” and “While” are used, but “While total percentage increase…” is left as a fragment rather than a complete sentence. Grouping the data more deliberately—for example, describing the overall total and injury categories together, then reporting the percentage changes—would create clearer progression. More precise references to the years would also help readers follow the comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage increase,” “fatal category,” “overall total,” and “decline.” These choices make the topic clear, and terms such as “severe” and “minor” show some variation. Some wording is imprecise or unnatural, however: “percentage increase for each sector of injury” is less suitable than “for each injury category,” and “fatal people” is not an appropriate collocation. “Affected individuals” and “effected people” are also awkward in this context; the latter uses the wrong word. Check spelling in “relevent” and use consistent, accurate labels such as “fatalities,” “serious injuries,” and “slight injuries.” More precise vocabulary would support clearer comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the opening sentence with a relative clause and the sentence beginning “The total number of people increased over time.” Most meanings remain clear, but some grammatical and punctuation errors are present. In “There is an increasing trend … from 1998 till 2002, in serious and slightly injured category,” the list structure is unclear and the singular category needs an article or plural form. “While total percentage increase is 342% over this period” is a dependent clause presented as a sentence; attach it to the preceding sentence or recast it. The sentence beginning “The total number … however” also needs stronger punctuation around “however.” Aim for complete, well-punctuated comparisons and consistent past-tense reporting.

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