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 chart illustrates the different options availed by Anthropology graduates from one university after their graduation.Alongside the table chart showing their income increase over the time.
Overall there have been increased in full-time work option to others availed by others.Also their salaries have a rise in Freelance consultants and Government sector while there have been mid rise and then fall in their income in private companies.
Most suitable option availed by graduates was full-time work with 52%, following part-time with 15%,12% remained Unemployed,while Full-time postgrad study and not known retained at same 8% each.The least famous option was Part-time + postgrad study with 5%.
Over the period of 5 years at work Freelance consultants and Government sector started their salaries from 5% to 40% in Freelance and 50% in Government sector.
While on the other hand initially Private companies offered 10% initial rise that was double to other two sectors but maximum of 35% increase then declined to 30% making it least profitable in regard of other two sectors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of both the pie chart and the table. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and contains inaccuracies. For instance, the description of the salary data is confusing; the student interprets the percentages as starting points rather than growth rates, which misrepresents the data. While the main trends are identified, the comparison between the sectors lacks clarity. To reach a higher band, you must ensure that data points are interpreted correctly and that the relationship between the figures is explained with greater precision rather than just listing numbers.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes awkward, such as the abrupt transition in the second paragraph: 'Also their salaries have a rise...'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the logic of the comparisons. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks a logical progression, often jumping between data points without a clear thematic focus. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'options availed by' and 'least famous option'. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'rise' and 'fall' rather than more academic alternatives like 'fluctuation', 'growth', or 'decline'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'mid rise', which do not impede communication but limit the sophistication of the response. Expanding your range of academic collocations and synonyms for trends will help improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('in private companies'), incorrect verb forms ('there have been increased'), and punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas. Some sentences are fragmented or lack proper subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and consistent punctuation will significantly improve the clarity and professional tone of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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