Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-31
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 graph displays the destination of Anthropology students who graduated from one university, while the accompanying table compares the percentages of the anthropologists in three different employments after five-year of work.
Overall, graduates who joined full-time employment were by far the highest than the other activites, while those who were in part-time work and continued postgrad study represented the lowest proportion. In terms of salaries across jobs, the proportion of graduates who worked in government sector and received the highest salary were by far more than other employment types.
Looking at the destination of Anthropology graduates, most of them preferred full-time work, which there percentage represented about half of the total graduates (52%), the second most common destiantion was chosen bygraduates was part-time work, standing at 15%, followed by unemployed at 12%. Meanwhile, those who enrolled full-time postgrad study and unknown destiantion were equaly distributed at 8% each, while only 5% of the total joined part-time work and postgrad study, accounting for the least commen category.
Turning to salaries distribution across jobs,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response is incomplete as it cuts off abruptly after the introductory sentence of the second paragraph. While you have identified the main features in the overview and provided some data for the pie chart, the failure to complete the task—specifically the lack of any analysis regarding the table of salaries—significantly impacts the score. To achieve a higher band, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed. The overview is clear, but the lack of development for the second half of the data means the response does not fully address the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In terms of', and 'Meanwhile'. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the logical flow and progression of the response. The referencing is generally clear, but the mechanical nature of the linking words occasionally makes the text feel slightly repetitive. To improve, focus on ensuring that each paragraph is fully developed and that the transition between the two data sets (the chart and the table) is smooth and complete.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, using terms like 'proportion', 'distributed', and 'employment'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'destiantion' and 'commen', and some awkward phrasing like 'highest than the other activites'. The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, focus on accurate spelling and using more varied collocations related to data description, such as 'accounted for' or 'represented a significant portion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'five-year of work' (should be 'five years of work') and 'which there percentage represented' (which is grammatically incorrect). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall quality. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses. Proofreading for basic errors in articles and prepositions would also help elevate your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.