Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-24

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 6.5)

The pie chart and combined chart illustrate the post-graduation destination of Anthropology graduates from a university, alongside their salary in work after 5 years.

Overall, it is clear that most of the students pursued full-time work after graduation. Moreover, salary ranges vary in different sectors of employment, with the government sector showing the highest proportion of high earners.

As shown in the pie chart, about half of the graduates (52%) chose full-time work as their destination which makes it popular choice of the students. Regarding other destination, 15% went for part-time work, whereas 12% remained unemployed. Post-graduation studies accounted for small proportions, 8% of graduates pursued full-time posrgraduation study, while combined part-time and postgraduation study chosen by 5% of students. Finally, the remaining 8% had unknown destination.

In terms of salaries, as shown in the table, freelance consultants and government sector hold the highest proportion (40% and 50% respectively) earning with $100,000. In contrast, private companies showed a more even distribution; while 30% fell into the highest earning bracket, the remaining 70% were spread across the lower income ranges.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of both the pie chart and the table. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with relevant data. To reach a higher band, ensure you make more direct comparisons between categories. For instance, you noted that 52% chose full-time work, but you could have explicitly contrasted this with the much smaller percentage (5%) who chose combined study. Additionally, ensure all data points are accurate; you mentioned 50% for the government sector, but the table shows 50% for the $100,000+ bracket, which is handled well. Overall, the task is addressed clearly and logically.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Your essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In terms of', and 'In contrast' effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is logical, separating the two distinct data sets. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, in the third paragraph, 'Regarding other destination' should be plural ('destinations'). The flow of information is smooth, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information accurately. Phrases like 'post-graduation destination' and 'earning bracket' are appropriate for the task. However, there are minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'posrgraduation' (typo) and 'which makes it popular choice' (missing article 'a'). To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or synonyms to avoid repetition of words like 'proportion' and 'destination'. Your vocabulary is functional and precise enough for the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which aids communication. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'combined part-time and postgraduation study chosen by 5%' (missing auxiliary verb 'was') and 'earning with $100,000' (should be 'earning $100,000'). These errors do not impede meaning. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles. Your control of punctuation is generally good, supporting the overall readability of the report.

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

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