Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The pie chart illustrates what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree course,while the tables compares the salaries of the anthropologists in work after five years.

Overall, Anthropology graduates who worked full -time accounted for the largest proportion, wherease, those who worked part time with post graduated study represented the least percentage. Also, regarding the salaries of Anthropology graduates, freelance consultants who earned $75,000- $99,999 and $100,000+ comprised the highest percentage. By contrast, those who earned $75,000- $ 99,999 in government sector had the highest figures.  Moreover, Anthropology graduates who earned $50,000- $74,999 in private sectors represented the largest salary.

In terms of destination of Anthropology graduates, full-time workers made up the highest percentage at 52 %, followed by  Part-time work which stood at 15%. 12% accounted for unemployed graduates. However, full time postgrad study and not known were both 8%. Meanwhile, part-time work with postgrad study represented the smallest proportion which was 5%.

Regarding the salaries of Anthropology graduates after 5 years' work,  freelance consultant who earned $75,000- $99,999 and $100,000+ were both 40%, which was the highest. In comparison, those in government sector who were paid $100,000+ stood at 50%. Also, in private sector 30% earned $100,000+, which represented the highest salary, whereas those who earned $25,000- $49,999 accounted for the least percentage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task and provides a clear overview. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the dominance of full-time work and the salary variations across sectors. However, the analysis of the salary table is somewhat confusing. For instance, you state that freelance consultants earning $75,000-$99,999 and $100,000+ comprised the highest percentage at 40%, but then mention government and private sector figures in a way that lacks clarity regarding the comparison. Ensure that data points are linked more logically to the specific categories to avoid ambiguity. Overall, the report is accurate, but the interpretation of the table data could be more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, moving from an introduction to an overview, followed by two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'Meanwhile', and 'By contrast' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing within the second body paragraph is occasionally unclear. For example, the transition between the pie chart data and the salary table data in the second paragraph could be smoother. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'comprised', and 'destination'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'post graduated study' (should be 'postgraduate study') and 'represented the largest salary' (a salary cannot be a 'largest' amount in this context; it should be 'highest salary bracket'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, some word choices are slightly imprecise. The spelling is generally accurate, and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without significant difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the tables compares' (subject-verb agreement) and 'wherease' (spelling). Additionally, some punctuation errors occur, such as the spacing in 'full -time' and '$ 99,999'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of complex structures to ensure they are error-free. The current level of control is sufficient for a Band 6.0, as the meaning remains clear despite the persistent minor errors.

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

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