Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-02

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 chart is divided into six sections. It can be observed from the chart that more than half of the graduates are employed full-time. After the full-time workers, part-time employes occupy 15% of the chart and third major portion shows un-employed graduates. Graduates with full-time post graduate studies and graduates with unknown destinations occupy equal portions of the chart. The smallest portion of the chart belongs to graduates who work part-time while pursuing their post graduate studies.

The table shows three different professions of anthropology graduates and their salary ranges after 5 years of work experience. From the table, it can be concluded that 80% of the freelance consultants have salaries ranging from 75 thousand dollars to above 100 thousand dollars. With 15% between 50 to 75 thousand dollars and the remaining earn less than 50 thousand dollars.

The second profession is in goverment sector where half of the graduates earn higher than 100 thousand dollars and 30% fall in the bracket from 50 to 75 thousand dollars. The rest of 20% are divided same as freelance consultants in terms of salary.

Private companies show around 30% in the above 100 thousand range and 25% in 75-99.99 thousand range. Around 10% in 25-50 thousand range with rest in 50-75 thousand bracket.

Comparing all three professions the highest number of graduates getting low pay are in employed private companies showing 10% in the lowest range. The highest perentage of graduates earning 100 thousand or higher are with government sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by summarizing the main features of both the chart and the table, and makes relevant comparisons between the sectors. For instance, you correctly noted that the highest percentage of graduates earning 100 thousand or higher is in the government sector. However, some parts of the task are handled more fully than others; the breakdown of the chart omits the exact figures for full-time work (52%) and unemployed (12%), relying instead on general descriptors like 'more than half'. Additionally, the overview of the chart's main features could be more clearly synthesized. To reach a higher band, ensure all key data points are stated precisely and support comparisons with comprehensive details across all categories without leaving minor gaps in data reporting.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression, dividing the information neatly into a paragraph about the chart and subsequent paragraphs detailing the table. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two visual sources. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or relies on simple connective phrases like 'The second profession is...' and 'Comparing all three professions...'. Referencing could also be tighter to guide the reader smoothly between data points. To move higher, employ a more sophisticated and flexible range of cohesive devices and ensure transitions between sentences are entirely natural and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

An adequate range of vocabulary is used for the task, allowing you to successfully convey information about employment statuses and salary brackets. You attempt less common vocabulary such as 'consultants', 'bracket', and 'percentage'. However, there are some noticeable word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'employes' instead of 'employees', 'un-employed', 'goverment' instead of 'government', and 'perentage'. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the score from rising further. To achieve a higher band, expand your lexical flexibility by using more precise academic collocations and eliminate basic spelling slips.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like 'It can be observed from the chart that...' and relative clauses effectively. There is a solid command of basic grammar and punctuation, and your errors rarely impede communication. Nonetheless, some sentences contain grammatical slips, such as 'are divided same as freelance consultants' (missing a preposition) and 'The rest of 20% are divided' (article and agreement issues). As a half-band bridging score, you show good control of many complex structures, but to attain a fully higher band, you need a greater frequency of error-free complex sentences and more consistent grammatical precision.

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

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