Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-03
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The chart below shows what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree course. The table shows the salaries of the anthropologists in work after five years.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparison where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The topic highlight the significant jobs done by the students who have completed their graduation in Anthropology from a university. Also their respective salary range is been shown after 5 years of work experience in various sectors.
The major number of graduates of Anthropology achieved highest percentage of full-time work with 52% in different aspects. The next highest amount of students achieved part-time work with 15%, followed by rest 15% were facing hardships in their lives with unemployment. The least number of students which was 8% were managing both their part-time and their further studies.
The salaries of Anthropology graduates were holding good number of amounts, the salary ranges between $25,000 to $100,000. Most of the graduates are drawing a salary more than $100,00 in three different sectors with 5 years of work experience. The amount of salary was drawn between $25,000 - $49,999 where very hand-full number graduates with 5%, 5% and 10% percentage in various fields.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart and table, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identified the highest percentage of full-time work (52%), the comparison between categories is limited. The description of the salary table is problematic; for instance, you state that most graduates earn over $100,000, which is a misinterpretation of the data provided. Furthermore, the summary lacks a clear overview or 'trend' statement, which is essential for Task 1. To improve, ensure you accurately interpret the data points and group them logically to highlight key differences or similarities rather than just listing percentages.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is basic and occasionally mechanical, such as 'The next highest amount' and 'The least number of students'. Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, and the referencing is not always clear. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data analysis.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. Phrases like 'holding good number of amounts' and 'hand-full number' are unnatural and imprecise. You rely on simple descriptors and struggle with accurate collocations related to data reporting. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'achieved highest percentage of full-time work', which could be phrased more naturally as 'the largest proportion of graduates were in full-time employment'. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and adjectives would significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'salary range is been shown' (passive voice error) and 'most of the graduates are drawing a salary more than $100,00' (missing zero and awkward phrasing). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are also occasionally problematic. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic tense and agreement errors would be a beneficial next step.
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