Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graphs below show the number of drivers in Britain who have been caught driving too fast by speed cameras placed on roads, and the number of people killed in road accidents, over an eight-year period since the introduction of speed cameras. The tables show the results of a survey on people's opinions on speed cameras.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

SPEED CAMERA FINES and ROAD ACCIDENT FATALITIES

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The first graph illustrates the amount of drivers who were caught driving fast by speed cameras facilities placed on roads in Britain whereas second graph presents the data on number of individuals killed in road accident after speed cameras were introduced during eight years. The tables contain information from a survey result regarding people's opinion on speed cameras.

Overall, revenue collected by penalties on speeding increased exponentially by eighth year whereas road accidents fluctuated through years. Most people believe speed cameras are only installed for revenue and does not contribute to reduction of accidents.

In the first year, fines that were collected amounted to 200,000 after speed cameras were installed. Overtime, penalty for speeding demonstrates substantial growth reaching 800,000 in sixth year whereas in eighth year the total amount collected due to penalty is 1,600,000. Furthermore, road accidents observe a fluctuation during eight years starting with 3,100 in first year. In fourth year, individual that die due to road accidents reach 3,000 whereas in the last eighth year 3,400 accidents are recorded.

In the survey, 60% of the people believe speed cameras do not reduce the chances of accidents on the roads. Similarly, most population at 71% believe that cameras are installed to raise revenue. Consequently, individuals at 56% answered that there are too many cameras on the roads.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task, including the graphs and the survey data. You have successfully identified the key trends, such as the exponential growth in fines and the fluctuating nature of road fatalities. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that road accidents reached 3,400 in the eighth year, whereas the graph indicates a figure closer to 2,800. Additionally, the overview is slightly inaccurate, as the graph shows that road fatalities actually decreased overall despite some fluctuations. To improve, ensure that data points are read precisely and that the summary reflects the overall trend rather than just isolated observations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs for the graphs and the survey. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the repetitive use of 'whereas' and 'in the... year'. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the transition between the graph analysis and the survey results could be smoother. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid and less reliant on repetitive structures.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'exponentially', 'fluctuated', and 'revenue'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'amount of drivers' should be 'number of drivers', and 'individual that die' is grammatically and lexically awkward. There are also minor errors in phrasing, such as 'speed cameras facilities'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your vocabulary is consistently accurate. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and nouns related to statistical trends will also help elevate 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 frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the first graph', 'in eighth year'), subject-verb agreement ('revenue... does not contribute'), and pluralization ('amount of drivers', 'individual that die'). These errors are noticeable but do not significantly impede communication. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage and ensure that your subjects and verbs agree. Incorporating a wider variety of complex sentence structures with greater accuracy would also help you move into a higher band.

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

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