Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-04

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 pie chart exhibits what Anthropology majored bachelors who graduated from a particular university did post graduation, and the table shows anthropologists' salaries after working for five years.

Overall, full-time work contributes to the majority of what anthropology graduate does, while the rest mostly did a variation of part-time work, postgrad study, and unemployment. As for salaries, half of the graduate working in government sector earn more than $100,000, making it a job with highest six figured pay percentage.

It is reported that 52% of the bachelors graduate did full-time work. Part-time work follows as second biggest share contributor at 15% and unemployment is ranked third at 12%. The remaining were either studying for postgrad or not known.

After working for 5 years, especially in government sector, private companies, and freelance consultants, we can conclude that government sector is the most well paying job, as 50% of them get the salary of more than $100,000. On second place, freelance consultant follows, as 40% of them also get the six figures salary. Lastly, only 30% of private companies pay more than $100,000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of both the pie chart and the table. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the dominance of full-time work and the salary distribution in the government sector. However, the analysis could be improved by making more direct comparisons between the categories. For instance, you mention the government sector salary but could have explicitly contrasted it with the private sector to highlight the disparity more effectively. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the main points, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two data sets. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'As for', 'It is reported that', and 'Lastly' are used to guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the pie chart data and the table data is functional but could be more sophisticated to better integrate the two distinct parts of the prompt.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'share contributor', 'well paying job', and 'freelance consultants' are used appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'Anthropology majored bachelors' which is slightly awkward phrasing, and 'job with highest six figured pay percentage', which is a bit clunky. To reach a higher band, focus on more precise collocations and avoid slightly unnatural phrasing. The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips. For example, 'what anthropology graduate does' should be plural ('graduates do'), and 'bachelors graduate' is grammatically incorrect. Additionally, 'On second place' should be 'In second place'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You have attempted complex structures, but they need to be more accurate to demonstrate the 'good control' required for a Band 7 or above.

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

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