Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-11
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 chart below illustrates what anthropology graduates from one university did after completing their undergraduate degree course. The table depicts the salaries of the anthropologist in work after five years.
The pie chart is completely about the destination of anthropology graduates. The pie chart implies on the type of employment and the salaries of graduates . In majority the 52 percent is for full-time work which has substantial growth in comparison of others. For part-time work it is considered 15 percent .5 percent is for part- time work and postgrad study .8 percent is for full-time postgrad study. 12 percent is considered for unemployed and 8 percent is for unknown.
After 5 years of work the salaries of anthropology graduates differ with the type of employment. In freelance consultants the salaries for 5 percent is $25,000 to 49,999 and for 15 percent it is $50,000 to 74,999 and for 40 percent it is $75,000 to 99,999 and for 40 percent it is $100,000+ . As the percentage increases the salary of employment increased simultaneously. In government sector for 5 percent it is $25,000to 49,000. For 15 percent it is $ 50,000 to 74,999. For 30 percent it is $75,000 to 99,999, and for 50 percent it is $[redacted phone]+ . In private companies for 10 percent it is $25,000 to 49,999 and for 35 percent it is $50,000 to 74,999 and for 25 percent it is $75,000 to 99,999 and for 30 percent it is $100,000+.
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 addresses both the chart and the table, but the reporting of data is mechanical and lacks a clear overview. While you have selected key features, the summary is essentially a list of statistics rather than an analytical report. For example, you state '52 percent is for full-time work' but fail to synthesize this information or highlight the most significant trends, such as the dominance of the $100,000+ salary bracket in government roles. To improve, you should group data more effectively and provide a concise overview that captures the main trends rather than detailing every single percentage point.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is repetitive. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures to list data, which makes the flow feel mechanical. Cohesive devices are limited and often misused; for instance, 'In majority the 52 percent' is not a standard way to introduce a point. The transition between the pie chart and the table is abrupt. Using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'conversely', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') would help connect your ideas more logically and improve the overall flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'is for' and 'considered'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the pie chart implies on' (should be 'shows' or 'illustrates') and 'in comparison of others' (should be 'in comparison with'). While you successfully use some subject-specific terms like 'freelance consultants' and 'government sector', the lack of variety in reporting verbs and descriptive language prevents you from achieving a higher score. Focus on using more precise verbs like 'account for', 'represent', and 'constitute'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple sentence structures, but there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. There are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar, such as '.5 percent is for part- time work' and 'the salary of employment increased simultaneously'. Additionally, there are inconsistencies in numerical formatting (e.g., '$100.000+' vs '$100,000+'). While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of minor errors in sentence construction and basic grammar limits the score. Incorporating more complex structures, such as relative clauses or participial phrases, would demonstrate better control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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