Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The illustration gives information about the work and income of Anthropology students in five years after they graduated from the universities. Overall, 50 percent of graduates in government sectors were earning above [redacted phone] dollars.

It is quite evident from the pie chart that the majority of graduates did full time work while 15 percent students did part-time work. In contrast, only 5% did both tasks at the same time while 12% students remained unemployed. Almost 8% learners did full-time postgrad study and 8% students are still unknown.

Meanwhile, their salaries were according to their job. Freelance consultants mostly earned between 75000 to 99999 dollars while some earned above [redacted phone] after 5 years of work. While, in government sector, 50% students recieved more than [redacted phone] dollars and 15% earned between 50000 to 74999 dollars. Finally, graduates in private companies were earning in different method than both the previous sectors. Majority of workers were earning less than 74999 dollars.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of both the pie chart and the table. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with relevant data. However, the response lacks a cohesive comparison between the categories. For instance, while you mention the government sector, you do not explicitly compare it to the private sector or freelance consultants in a way that highlights the trends effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure you synthesize the data rather than just listing it. Additionally, ensure all data points are accurate; for example, you mentioned '50 percent' for government salaries, but the chart shows a more nuanced distribution that could be described more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices like 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'Finally' to transition between ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the connection between the two data sets (chart and table) could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas feels a bit like a list of facts rather than a cohesive analytical report. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey the information, such as 'illustration', 'graduates', 'unemployed', and 'freelance consultants'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'did both tasks at the same time' (instead of 'combined work and study') and 'earning in different method' (instead of 'a different pattern'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to use more specific academic collocations related to data reporting, such as 'a significant proportion' or 'a contrasting trend'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in five years after they graduated' (should be 'five years after graduation'), '15 percent students' (should be '15 percent of students'), and 'recieved' (spelling error). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing data would be beneficial.

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

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