Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-11
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 given pie chart gives the information about the destination of Anthropology graduates after completing their undergraduate degree from a particular university and the table gives data about their salaries after five years.
Overall, full-time work accounted for the highest proportion among the university graduates, while the smallest number of students did part-time jobs with their postgraduate studies. Freelance consultant and government sector were the highest-paid jobs after the five years than private companies.
In term of the pie chart, over half of students went for the full-time work, while only 5% of graduates recorded for the part-time jobs with their postgraduate studies. Anthropology graduates who selected full-time work with their postgraduate studies are 8%, followed by the part-time work (15%). The proportion of unemployed students and not known recorded at 12% and 8%.
According to the table, government sector accounted for the highest proportion in salary 50% ($100,000+), followed by the freelance consultant 40%. The private companies recorded at the smallest percentage compared to other, only 30%, while started from the largest share 10% ($25,000-49,999).
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by summarizing the pie chart and the table. You successfully identified the main features, such as the highest proportion of full-time work and the salary distribution. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For example, you state that the private sector recorded '30%' for the highest salary bracket, but the table indicates 30% for the $75,000–99,999 range, not the $100,000+ category. Additionally, the comparison of salary brackets is slightly confusing. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are transcribed with absolute precision and that comparisons between categories are clearly linked to the specific figures provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the chart and the table respectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In term of', and 'According to' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'In term of the pie chart'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the internal cohesion within the final paragraph is weakened by the confusing presentation of the salary data, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the sectors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'undergraduate degree'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'recorded for' instead of 'recorded as' or 'accounted for'. The phrase 'salary 50%' is also slightly awkward. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated reporting verbs and precise collocations related to statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical slips. For instance, 'The given pie chart gives the information about' is repetitive; 'In term of' should be 'In terms of'; and 'highest-paid jobs after the five years than private companies' is grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. Despite these errors, the meaning is generally clear, and the mistakes do not significantly impede communication. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring subject-verb agreement would improve the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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