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 below illustrates the proportion of careers of Anthropology afterwards their undergraduate degree from a single higher studies institution. The table provides data on the salaries of the anthropology in their employment after half a decade.

Overall, it can be seen as full time work is the dominant sector contributing approximately half of the total distribution. While full time study and not known categories share similar proportions. The minor sector is postgraduate study and part-time jobs which share least percentage.

The circular chart demonstrates that: Anthropology graduates mainly earn by doing full-time occupation that share 52% of the total distribution. Most of the youngsters spend their time on the side hustler jobs accounts for 15%. Furthermore, unemployment also makes up for the minor share of 12%. Lastly, study plus part-time job accounts for least contribution of 5%.

The table data provides information that the government sector's salary is considerably highest overall about more than 1 lac. However, private companies have dominant salaries approximately between 50 thousand and 75 thousand. On the contrary, the freelance consultants earn nearly 1 lac or even more.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the data, but there are significant inaccuracies in the reporting of the figures. For example, you state that 'full-time occupation' accounts for 52%, whereas the chart shows 52% for 'Full-time work'. More critically, you misinterpret the data by claiming 'side hustler jobs' account for 15% and 'unemployment' for 12%, which contradicts the provided chart labels. Furthermore, the table data is described vaguely (e.g., 'more than 1 lac'), which lacks the precision required for an Academic Task 1 response. To improve, ensure you carefully transcribe the labels and values from the visual aids provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or awkward, such as 'On the contrary' used to introduce salary data, which does not logically contrast with the previous sentence. The progression of ideas is occasionally hindered by imprecise referencing, such as 'the anthropology' instead of 'anthropology graduates'. While the paragraphing is clear, the internal flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, but there are several instances of unnatural word choice and inaccuracies. Phrases like 'side hustler jobs' and 'study plus part-time job' are not formal or precise enough for an academic report. Additionally, the term '1 lac' is not standard English for international IELTS examinations; you should use '100,000' instead. There are also minor errors in word formation, such as 'anthropology' used to refer to the graduates themselves. Expanding your range to include more precise reporting verbs and nouns would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'Anthropology afterwards their undergraduate degree' is grammatically incorrect, as is 'the anthropology in their employment'. You also have issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'the minor sector is postgraduate study and part-time jobs which share least percentage'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage.

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

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