Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The bar charts and line graph below show the results of a survey conducted over a three-year period to discover what people who live in London think of the city.

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

What are the best things about living in London?

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The bar charts and line graph below illustrates the result of a survey conducted over a time period of three years to discover what the residents who are situated in London think of the city.

The bar chart shows the best things about London has been range of shops stayed at constant high between the period of three years and worsts things about London being the cost of living ,traffic congestion and crime being at constant high.

During year 1 residents found best was the range of shops which was at 45% and furthermore night life and transport remained stable at 25%. Moreover in year two and one mixture of people remained stable at 35% and in year two and three opportunities plateaued at 35%.

In addition the residents during year 1 found worst was the cost of living being at 58% and crime being at 55%. Moreover, year 1 and 2 traffic congestion remained stable at 55%. And furthermore transport remained stable at 25% in year 2 and 3 , moreover cost of housing stayed at 35% in year 1 and 2 , also the major problems that arised in London was litter which rose to 85% in year 2 but then declined in year 3 furthermore, air quality and noise had a steady decline from year 1 till year 3.

Overall, the line graph illustrates that noise and air quality has a steady decline and litter was highest in year 2, and range of shops was the best thing and cost of living , traffic congestion and crime were the worst things about London.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the charts, but the presentation of data is often confusing and lacks precision. While you identify key trends, the description of the data is frequently inaccurate or difficult to follow, such as the claim that 'range of shops' stayed at a 'constant high' when the data shows fluctuations. Furthermore, the report lacks a clear overview of the trends, as the summary is buried at the end and repeats information already mentioned. To improve, ensure you group data logically—perhaps by category rather than by year—and provide a clear, concise summary of the most significant trends in the introduction or immediately following it.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical and repetitive, with 'moreover' and 'furthermore' used excessively to connect unrelated points. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to track which data point belongs to which category. For instance, the transition between discussing 'year 1' and 'year 2' is abrupt, and the lack of clear signposting makes the report feel like a list of statistics rather than a cohesive analysis. Improving the use of linking phrases and ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'best' and 'worst' rather than more academic alternatives such as 'most positive aspect' or 'primary concern'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'major problems that arised' (should be 'arose') and 'constant high'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and the repetition of basic verbs like 'remained' and 'stayed' makes the writing feel monotonous. Incorporating more varied reporting verbs and precise terminology related to data trends would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You make several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The bar charts and line graph... illustrates') and incorrect verb forms ('problems that arised'). Punctuation is also problematic, with inconsistent spacing around commas and periods. While the meaning is generally clear, these frequent errors distract the reader and indicate a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring correct tense usage throughout the report will help you achieve a higher level of accuracy.

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