Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-29
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 data on a particular university about the destination of Anthropology students after completing their bachelors degree. While the table presents the salaries of Anthropologists after five years at their work.
Overall, most students are working full time whereas part-time workers are least in proportion. Many postgraduates working in government sectors will have highest salaries.
According to pie chart, 52% students are working as full time employees, followed by 15% part-time workers. Unemployed students (12%) constitutes the third category in chart. 8% students are enrolled in full time postgraduate degrees and the same trend can be seen in students with not known jobs. Part-time workers and postgraduate students showed the least percentage (5%).
In terms of salaries after a period of five years, 50% anthropologists working in government sectors, 40% freelance consultants and 30% employed in private companies will have salaries above 100,000$. 5% freelancer advisors and public sector employees will earn between the range of 25,000$ to 49,999$.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task, including both the pie chart and the table. You successfully identify the main features, such as the high percentage of full-time employees and the salary trends in the government sector. However, the analysis is slightly hampered by inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that 8% of students are in postgraduate degrees and then later claim this category is 5%, which is contradictory. Additionally, the salary data interpretation is slightly confusing; ensuring that figures are accurately transcribed from the visual data is essential for a higher band score. The overview is clear, but the supporting details need more precision to fully satisfy the requirements of a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In terms of' and 'According to', to guide the reader. However, the transition between the two data sets is somewhat abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly. The referencing is generally clear, but the contradictory information regarding the percentages of postgraduate students disrupts the logical progression of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'proportion', and 'freelance consultants'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'at their work' is unnatural; 'in their careers' or 'in their roles' would be more appropriate. Additionally, the placement of the dollar sign after the number (e.g., '100,000$') is non-standard in English, where it should precede the figure. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as '52% students' (missing 'of'), 'the same trend can be seen in students with not known jobs' (awkward phrasing), and 'will have highest salaries' (missing the article 'the'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequent minor errors in articles and prepositions indicate a lack of full control over complex structures. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles when discussing statistical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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