Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-07
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 displays what graduated students, who obtained a degree in anthropology from the same university, did after completing their undergraduate course. The table illustrates the amount of money in dollars that these graduates have earned over a span of five years doing work. After finishing their anthropology course, most of the graduates went into full-time work and most had a job in government sector earning a total of over a hundred thousand dollars as salary at the end of five year period.
The bare minimum of the graduates ended up going into part time work alongside postgrad study. Second to the least most popular route amongst the students was full-time postgrad study and an unknown destination.
In terms of their salaries, the highest earning group of graduates during the five year working interval were working in the Government sector, which was also the job that most of the graduated students were involved in. However, the least of the graduates worked as freelance consultants and in the government sector. These individuals were also the least paid group amongst all the graduates.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of both the pie chart and the table. You successfully identified the most popular career path and the highest-earning sector. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, you mention 'the least of the graduates worked as freelance consultants and in the government sector' regarding the table, but the table actually lists specific salary brackets for different roles. The comparison between the two data sets could be more precise. To reach a higher band, ensure you include more specific data points (e.g., exact salary figures or percentages) to support your observations, rather than relying on general descriptions like 'most' or 'least'.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction followed by body paragraphs that address the pie chart and the table respectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two data sources. Cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'However', and 'After finishing' are used to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between the description of the pie chart and the table is smoother, perhaps by explicitly stating how the two sets of data relate to one another.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undergraduate degree', 'full-time work', and 'freelance consultants'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the least of the graduates', which is slightly unnatural; 'the smallest proportion of graduates' would be more precise. You also repeat 'graduates' and 'work' frequently. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but it lacks the sophistication required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'the least most popular route' (which is redundant) and 'earning a total of over a hundred thousand dollars as salary at the end of five year period' (missing an article before 'five-year'). Punctuation is generally accurate, but some phrasing is slightly awkward. To improve, focus on ensuring articles are used correctly and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, to enhance the flow and precision of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.