Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-04

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 6.0)

The pie chart and table illustrate the destination of anthropology graduates from a specific university and their salaries after five years of work, respectively.

Overall, after their undergraduate studies, most of the students started their practical life, which occupies more than half of the pie chart, while the unemployment and part-time job figures are quite similar. In the accompanying table, a governmental job is far more beneficial compared to others.

The destination of graduates is really diverse in the given pie chart. Full time employment figures accounted over the half of pie chart, while the unemployment and part time job ratio is roughly identical. Furthermore, some students balanced postgraduate studies with part-time employment.

The table shows that after five years of work, most Anthropology graduates earn relatively high salaries. In the government sector, 50% earn $100,000 or more, the highest proportion. Freelance consultants also perform well, with 40% earning $100,000+ and another 40% receiving $75,000–99,999. In contrast, employees in private companies are more concentrated in the $50,000–74,999 salary range (35%), although 30% still earn over $100,000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task, providing a clear overview and highlighting key data points from both the chart and the table. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the dominance of full-time employment and the salary advantages in the government sector. However, the analysis could be improved by providing more specific data comparisons. For instance, while you mention that unemployment and part-time jobs are similar, you could explicitly state the percentages to strengthen the report. The overview is functional, but ensure that comparisons are more analytical rather than just descriptive to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two data sources. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Furthermore', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. To improve, focus on varying your linking phrases and ensuring that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is more seamless. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information clearly. Phrases like 'accounted for over the half' and 'concentrated in the salary range' are appropriate for a report. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'started their practical life' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'the destination of graduates is really diverse' (which is a bit informal). To achieve a higher band, aim to use more precise academic collocations and avoid informal intensifiers like 'really'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. There are minor grammatical slips, such as 'accounted over the half of pie chart' (missing articles and prepositions) and 'part time job ratio' (should be plural). You have a good grasp of basic grammar, but to reach a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or more sophisticated relative clauses, while maintaining high accuracy.

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

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