Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-25

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 6.0)

The chart illustrates the destination of Anthropology from one university, and the table shows the salary of Anthropology graduates after 5 years.

Overall it is evident that full-time work accounted for the highest proportion, while part-time work and postgraduate study showed a lower figure. In terms of salaries, the government sector, after 5 years, experienced a higher wage, and private companies had a lower salary in the following categories.

Regarding the percentage, full-time work stood at 52%, followed by part-time work at 15%. Meanwhile, unemployed pupils registered 12%, whereas full-time postgraduate study and anonymous represented an equal figure of 8%, and part-time and postgraduate study had the lowest figure of 5% students.

Turning to the salaries, 5% staff at the government sector initially had a pay starting from 25000 to 49999, 15% had a [redacted phone]9, 30% stood at

[redacted phone], and half of the employees had a greater salary of [redacted phone] and above. Similarly, among freelance consultants, 5% of graduates registered 25000 to 49999, 15% had [redacted phone]9 wages, and 40% stood at [redacted phone] and rose to [redacted phone] and above for senior staff. In contrast,

10% private companies workers earned 25000 to 49999, 35% had [redacted phone]9, followed by 25% staffs who had [redacted phone], and 30% generated

100,000 and above, among other graduates.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task, providing a clear overview and selecting key features from both the chart and the table. The main trends are identified, such as the dominance of full-time work and the salary distribution across sectors. However, the analysis of the salary data is slightly mechanical, listing percentages rather than synthesizing the information to highlight the most significant comparisons. For instance, noting that the government sector has the highest proportion of top earners compared to private companies would have strengthened the response. Overall, the information is accurate and relevant, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0, but it lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the employment status to the salary breakdown. Cohesive devices such as 'Regarding the percentage,' 'Meanwhile,' and 'Turning to the salaries' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly repetitive, and the paragraphing could be more sophisticated. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the final sentence and the rest of the paragraph is slightly abrupt. The structure is sufficient to ensure a smooth flow of information throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'proportion,' 'registered,' and 'freelance consultants' used correctly. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to graduates as 'unemployed pupils' or 'staff,' which is slightly imprecise in this context. While the student attempts to use a variety of terms, the vocabulary remains somewhat basic and lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. Spelling is generally accurate, but the repetition of 'figure' and 'salary' limits the lexical variety. Expanding the range of synonyms for data and trends would improve the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally functional, there are several errors, such as 'the destination of Anthropology' (should be 'Anthropology graduates'), '10% private companies workers' (should be 'workers in private companies'), and '25% staffs' (staff is an uncountable noun). Punctuation is mostly correct, but there are minor issues with number formatting and consistency. The errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. More attention to subject-verb agreement and pluralization would enhance the accuracy of the writing.

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

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