Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-01
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 6.5)
The pie chart illustrates the employment status of Anthropology graduates, while the table shows the salaries they earn after five years of work.
Overall, full-time employment is the most common status, accounting for 52% of graduates. In terms of salary, graduates working in the government sector have the highest proportion earning $100,000 or more.
According to the pie chart, 52% of Anthropology graduates work full-time, while 15% work part-time. A further 8% are studying full-time and another 8% are unemployed. Only 5% have part-time jobs while studying for postgraduate degrees. The status of the remaining 12% is unknown.
The table shows that 40% of freelance consultants earn $75,000–99,999, and the same percentage earn $100,000 or more. Among government employees, 30% earn $75,000–99,999 and 50% earn over $100,000. In private companies, 35% earn $50,000–74,999, while 25% earn $75,000–99,999 and 30% earn $100,000 or more.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response covers the main parts of the task by reporting data from both the pie chart and the table, and includes a relevant overview covering key highlights such as the dominant employment status and top salary category. However, the student does not quite meet the minimum word count of 150 words, stopping at 143 words, which prevents a more thorough reporting of all visual details. Furthermore, while comparisons are attempted, they are somewhat limited and could be extended further to fully explore the dataset. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to ensure the word count requirement is consistently met and provide a more comprehensive selection and comparison of data points.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly, with the introduction and overview followed by distinct paragraphs for the pie chart and the table details. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'In terms of', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data, and referencing is clear. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different sections of the visual information. To progress further, the cohesion could be made even more seamless and varied, avoiding any mechanical transitions and ensuring every sentence flows naturally into the next.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.0
The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with adequate flexibility and precision for the task. Appropriate terms such as 'employment status', 'proportion', 'freelance consultants', and 'government employees' are utilized successfully. There are also attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'accounting for'. Word choice is generally appropriate and communication is smooth without any noticeable errors in spelling or word formation. To achieve an even higher band, the writer could incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items and precise collocation related to data reporting, such as verbs indicating trends or proportions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0
The writing exhibits a good variety of sentence structures, including both simple and complex forms like 'The pie chart illustrates the employment status... while the table shows...'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and the overall control of grammar and punctuation is strong, with accurate verb tenses, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement across the text (e.g., 'graduates working in the government sector have...'). A few minor errors persist, but grammar does not impede communication. To attain a higher band, the student should introduce a wider range of complex grammatical structures with consistent accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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