Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-17

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)

Details pertaining to work and salary of Anthropology graduates from one university after completion course of their undergraduate degree are delineated by the provided mix chart.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that the proportion of Anthropology graduatesin full time work is larger than others and salary of graduates, who work as feelance consultants is also higher among Anthropology graduates.

Scrutinizing deeper into the chart, it can be seen that the percentage of graduates, who work full-time is total of remaining jobs. The proportion of graduates in full-time postgrad study and not known job type is equal. The ratio of part-time work by Anthropology graduates is smallest than other sectors.

Digging deeper into the chart, it can be also observe that the percentage of graduates, who have freelance consultants and have salary $75,000-99,999 and $100,000+ is higher among other sectors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the main destination, full-time work, as the largest category, and you attempt to compare the salary table. However, the report is incomplete and several comparisons are unclear or inaccurate. Part-time work is not the smallest destination: part-time work plus postgraduate study is 5%, compared with 15% in part-time work. The statement that full-time work is “the total of remaining jobs” does not accurately describe the data, and the salary overview focuses on freelance consultants without comparing them clearly with government and private-sector employees. The response also falls 10 words short of the required minimum. To improve, give a clear overview and select accurate figures to compare the main categories in both visuals.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs beginning “Scrutinizing deeper” and “Digging deeper.” This gives the reader some sense of organisation, and the ideas generally remain related to the charts. However, progression is limited because the body paragraphs do not develop a clear sequence of comparisons, and the repeated “deeper” transitions feel mechanical. Some references are difficult to follow, particularly “the total of remaining jobs” and “other sectors,” which do not specify the categories being compared. Organise the details by visual or by key comparison, and use precise links such as “By contrast” or “In the salary table” only where they clarify the relationship between figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentage,” “salary,” and “freelance consultants,” and you attempt more formal phrasing such as “delineated” and “Scrutinizing.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which makes parts of the report harder to interpret. “Feelance” is a spelling error, while “smallest than” and “have freelance consultants” are unsuitable expressions. “Job type” is also imprecise when referring to graduates’ destinations. Aim for clear, conventional chart language rather than ornate wording: for example, describe graduates as “working as freelance consultants” and say a figure is “the lowest” or “higher than” another. Accurate collocations will make your comparisons more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including relative clauses such as “graduates, who work full-time,” and the main message is usually recoverable. However, errors in sentence construction and agreement recur. In “the percentage of graduates … is total of remaining jobs,” the structure is incomplete and the intended relationship is unclear; “it can be also observe” has an incorrect verb form; and “graduates, who have freelance consultants” does not form a grammatical description of the workers. Articles and prepositions are also missing or awkward in phrases such as “after completion course.” Practise building direct comparison sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check verb forms and article use before submitting.

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

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