Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-20

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 chart is representing the destination of Anthropology gradustes of a particular university and their earnings after an experience of 5 years are mentioned in the table.

Overall, higher proportion of graduates were working full time, while a few combined part time-work with postgraduation. In addition, salaries of government sector employes recorded the highest percentage followed by freelance consultants, and private companies paying the least.

Over half of the graduates, which is 52% were doing full time job. In contrast a very small proportion of 5%, combined postgrad studies and part time work. proportions of part time working students,unemployed, pursuing higher education and those who were unknown are 15%,12%,8%and 8%, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the main destination pattern accurately: full-time work is the largest category at 52%, and only 5% combine part-time work with postgraduate study. However, the task also requires reporting the salary table, and no salary-band figures or comparisons are given. The overview claim that government employees had the highest salaries and private-company employees the lowest is too broad: government workers had the largest share in the top band, but freelance consultants also had 40% earning $75,000–$99,999 and 40% earning $100,000 or more. The response is also 39 words below the required minimum, which contributes to the limited coverage. Include key salary comparisons and develop the overview with evidence from both visuals.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph with destination figures. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “In contrast” help signal a comparison. However, the progression is incomplete because the salary table is mentioned in the introduction and overview but never described in a separate section. The final sentence lists several categories in a compressed sequence, making the figures harder to scan. Organise the report into a fuller overview followed by clearly grouped details for destinations and salaries, and use linking phrases to show meaningful comparisons rather than simply listing data.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “proportion,” “freelance consultants,” “government sector,” and “postgrad studies,” so the topic is generally clear. There is also an attempt to vary wording with “earnings” and “salaries.” However, several choices are imprecise or awkward, such as “the chart is representing,” “their earnings … are mentioned,” and “salaries … recorded the highest percentage.” Spelling errors in “gradustes” and “employes” also reduce accuracy. Aim for standard chart-reporting collocations and precise terms for salary distributions; for example, say that a category “accounted for” a share or that workers “earned” within a salary band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast structure “while a few combined…” and the relative clause “which is 52%.” The main information remains understandable, but errors and awkward constructions recur. For example, “The chart is representing” uses an unsuitable progressive form, while “Over half of the graduates, which is 52% were…” has faulty punctuation and an unclear clause structure. The final list also lacks consistent spacing and punctuation between figures. Use straightforward, controlled reporting structures, such as “The chart shows…” and “At 52%, full-time work was the most common destination,” and check clause boundaries, commas, and agreement.

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

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