Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-16
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 percentages of Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree.
Overall, full time work accounted for the largest proportion at 52%. While part time work postgraduate study represented the smallest share . It is noticeable that the proportion of full time work increased .
Full time work accounted for 52% , making it the largest category .This was followed by part time work , at 15% . Unemployed and full time postgraduate study represented the 12 % and 8% . So, the part time work postgraduate study represented the very smallest share .
The table illustrates the salaries of the anthropologists in work after five years .
Overall, freelance consultants had the largest proportion to earn salaries at 40% while private companies had the smallest proportion to earn money .
Looking at first freelance consultants , many employees wanted to earn $75,000 to $100,000+ , at 40%. This was higher than private companies . Private companies wanted to earn $100,000+, at 30%.
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 covers the main features of both the chart and the table, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identified the largest and smallest categories, the comparison between the two data sets is weak. For instance, you mention that 'full time work increased,' but there is no data in the prompt to support a trend over time, suggesting a misinterpretation of the static pie chart. Furthermore, the description of the table is inaccurate; you state that private companies had the 'smallest proportion to earn money,' which is not clearly supported by the provided data. To improve, focus on accurately reporting the figures provided and ensuring your comparisons are logically grounded in the visual information.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes confusing. For example, the phrase 'part time work postgraduate study' is used as a single category, which is grammatically unclear and confusing. Transitions between sentences are often repetitive, relying heavily on 'This was followed by' or 'Overall'. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your referencing (e.g., 'this', 'these') clearly points back to the intended noun phrase, rather than leaving the reader to guess the connection.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher score. You rely on basic verbs like 'illustrates', 'accounted for', and 'represented'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'proportion to earn salaries', which is not natural English. The repetition of 'proportion' and 'share' throughout the text limits the range of your lexical resource. To improve, try to incorporate more varied reporting verbs and precise terminology related to data description, such as 'constituted', 'comprised', or 'accounted for the majority'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, there are inconsistent spaces before commas (e.g., '52% ,') and missing articles (e.g., 'represented the 12%'). Some sentences are fragmented or lack clear subjects, such as 'While part time work postgraduate study represented the smallest share'. Improving your control over basic sentence construction and punctuation will significantly enhance the readability of your writing. Focus on ensuring each sentence has a clear subject and verb and that punctuation marks are placed correctly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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