Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-10

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 pie chart illustrates the career of Anthropology students after completing their undergraduate degree course from a particular university, while the table compares the salaries of Anthropologists after five years of work.

Overall, many of the anthropologists made the highest proportion as a full-time employee, whereas part-time work with postgrad study represented the smallest group among others. Anthropologists in the government sector received the highest salary in all ranges, except $100,000+ category.

An analysis of the image reveals that 52% of anthropology students worked as full-time employees, while 15% of the graduates worked as part-time employees. In addition, 12% of the students were unemployed. In contrast, 8% of anthropologists worked as full-time postgrad study and some other reason is not known. However, 5% of the students worked as part-time employee with postgrad study.

From the image it is evident that, freelance consultant received 40% salaries in both $75,000-99,999 and $100,000+ categories, whilst they received 15% and 5% in both $25,000-49,999 and $50,000-74,999 categories respectively. Moreover, anthropologists received 50% salary in $100,000+ category, where they received 30%, 15% and 5% in $75,000-99,999, $50,000-74,999 and $25,000-49,999 categories. However, employees in private companies received 35% and 30% in $50,000-74,999 and $50,000-74,999 categories respectively, whereas 10% and 25& in $25,000-49,999 and $75,000-99,999 categories respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of both the chart and the table. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with relevant data. However, the reporting of the table data is somewhat confusing. For instance, you mention '40% salaries' for freelance consultants, which is a misinterpretation of the data (the percentages represent the distribution of salary brackets, not the salary itself). Additionally, the description of the salary data is repetitive and lacks a clear comparative structure, making it difficult for the reader to follow the trends. To improve, ensure you accurately interpret what the percentages represent and group the data more logically to highlight key comparisons rather than just listing figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'In contrast', and 'However' to link ideas. However, the flow within the final paragraph is mechanical and occasionally repetitive. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the salary table, where the connection between the categories and the percentages becomes muddled. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence clearly refers back to the data being discussed would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'proportion', 'categories', and 'evident'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'career of Anthropology students' (should be 'career paths') and 'made the highest proportion' (should be 'accounted for the highest proportion'). You also have a minor typographical error ('25&' instead of '25%'). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, you should aim to use more precise collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing when describing data trends to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'many of the anthropologists made the highest proportion as a full-time employee' (subject-verb agreement and preposition usage) and 'some other reason is not known' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some issues with clarity in the final paragraph due to the way data is presented. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring your complex sentences are constructed accurately.

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

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