Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-08

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 proportion of Anthropology students after completing their degree, while the table displays the income of anthropologists in work in the next five years.

Overall, it is evident that the majority of graduates do full-time work after finishing their degree, with their figure more than half. The percentage of part-time plus postgraduate study was the lowest share. Salaries of Anthropology graduates increased throughout the period.

It is clearly seen in the diagram that students who graduated from university accounted for 52% in full-time work, followed by 15% doing part-time work. Furthermore, the figure for unemployed graduates made up 12% of the graduates. Although, not known and permanent postgraduate students both accounted for 8%. The part-time work plus postgraduate stood at 5%.

In addition, the income of freelance consultants significantly grew over the years from around 15% to 40%. Moreover, the government workers' salaries also boosted up from 15% to 50%, which makes 50,000 to 100,000+. In private companies, the percentage fluctuated by 10% to 30% over the five years period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task, providing a clear overview and selecting key features from both the chart and the table. However, there is a significant misunderstanding of the data in the table. You describe the salary figures as percentages (e.g., 'from around 15% to 40%'), whereas the table clearly displays salary ranges in currency. This misinterpretation of the data type affects the accuracy of your reporting. While the main features are identified, the analysis of the table is fundamentally flawed because the units are incorrect. To improve, ensure you carefully read the labels on axes and table headers before drafting your summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two data sources. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In addition', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of information is generally clear, moving from the pie chart to the table. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the relationship between sentences is more fluid and less reliant on simple additive connectors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for the description of trends and proportions. You use terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'fluctuated' correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'boosted up' (which is informal and slightly redundant) and the misinterpretation of the table data as percentages. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of reporting verbs and avoiding informal phrasing would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'with their figure more than half' (which is awkward phrasing) and 'the five years period' (missing a hyphen or possessive). While these errors do not impede communication, they are noticeable. The use of complex structures is attempted, but control is inconsistent. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions. Ensuring that your complex sentences are error-free will help you move toward a higher band.

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.