Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-12
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 describes that how graduates selected different paths after completing their Anthropology undergraduate degree course.
Overall, it can be seen that, most of the students got their job and other started post-graduation for better oppurtunities in future.
Firstlt, after completing graduation, more than half of the population of graduates started full-time work in government or private sector. 15% of graduates sarted part-time work like freelance consulting for earning money. In addition, 5% of students started their post-graduation study along with part-time working to get money and knowledge both at the same time.
Moreover, graduates who wanted to start full-time post-graduation study was around 8%. 12% of students were unemployed and was not studying also. While, 8% were not known after the completion of graduation. The salary of Anthropologists after working 5 years in government and private sector was more than freelance consultants which is around 35-40%, and freelancers got 5-15% compare to others.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 data, including the employment status and salary information. However, the analysis of the salary data is problematic. You state that salaries were '35-40%' and '5-15%', which misinterprets the table (which shows salary ranges in dollars, not percentages). This is a significant error in data reporting. While you have identified the main trends in the pie chart, the inaccurate interpretation of the table data prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between percentages and currency values provided in the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Firstlt' (a spelling error), and 'Moreover'. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the pie chart data and the table data is somewhat abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used accurately will help create a more professional and cohesive report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undergraduate degree', 'freelance consulting', and 'unemployed'. However, there are several spelling errors ('Firstlt', 'oppurtunities', 'sarted') and some imprecise word choices, such as 'get money' instead of 'earn a salary' or 'generate income'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Focusing on accurate spelling and using more formal, academic collocations will improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('12% of students were unemployed and was not studying') and awkward phrasing ('describes that how graduates selected'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence structure is sometimes repetitive. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents a higher band. You should aim to proofread your work to catch subject-verb agreement errors and ensure consistent tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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