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 pie chart compares the proportion of Anthrpology graduates on a one university participated after finished their undergraduate dgree training. The table illustrates the percentage of salaries of anthropology after 5 years graduates.

Overall, full-time work considered the highest portion of the pie chart whereas the part time and postgrad study accounted for the smallest proportion. The table shows the largest percentage of $100,000 or more income group while $25,000-49,999 contributed the lowest figure.

In terms of full time work, accounted for the largest proportion of Anthropology fgraduates at 52%. This, full time work made up 52%, which was more than half of total graduated students. Full-time postgrad study and not known dgree course each took 8% while unemployed made up just 12%. There was a marked difference between part-time work and part-time work and postgrad study with part time work standing at 15% compared with just 5% for part-time work and postgrad study.

On the other hand $25,000-49,999 income category accounted for 10% for private companies, which was 5% higher than freelance consultants ad government sector each accounted for just 5%. Freelance consultants and governments both represented similar figure at 15% respectively while private companies made up 35% in $50,000-74,999 income group. In $75,000-99,999 income group freelane represented the highest proportion at 40% followed by, government sector at 30% while 25% for private companies. In $100,000 or more income group government sector accounted for 50% followed by freelance consultants as second higher contributor at 40% and 30% for private companies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover both the graduate destinations and the salary table, and the overview identifies full-time work as the largest destination and the lowest salary band as the smallest overall. Most figures are reported accurately, including the 52% in full-time work and the salary distributions across the three employment types. However, the overview is partly unclear: “part time and postgrad study” is described as the smallest proportion, but it would be more precise to identify the combined part-time-work-and-postgraduate-study category at 5%. The salary overview also needs a clearer comparison across employment types, since the top salary band is largest only for government and freelance work, not private companies. Some details are less fully synthesised than others; a sharper overview of these contrasts would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph on destinations and a paragraph on salaries. This gives the reader a basic route through both visuals. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes repetitive or awkward. For example, the full-time-work figure is stated twice in succession (“accounted for the largest proportion” and “made up 52%”), while “On the other hand” does not clearly express the relationship between the destination chart and salary table. Some comparisons are also difficult to follow because several figures are packed into long sentences. Use clearer topic sentences and group salary figures by meaningful contrasts, while avoiding repeated information and choosing linking phrases that accurately show the relationship between ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary such as “proportion,” “accounted for,” “income group” and “represented,” which helps communicate the data. There are also attempts at varied phrasing, including “marked difference” and “largest contributor.” However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or repetitive: “participated after finished” does not naturally describe graduates’ destinations, and “the percentage of salaries” is not an appropriate description of the table. Several spelling errors, including “Anthrpology,” “dgree,” “fgraduates” and “freelane,” reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, conventional chart language such as “went on to,” “salary bands” and “the proportion earning,” and proofread carefully for spelling and repeated phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, and the reader can generally understand the comparisons. Some grammatical errors, however, make sentences unclear or incomplete. The opening phrase “graduates … participated after finished” lacks a correct verb pattern, and “In terms of full time work, accounted for…” has no clear subject. The sentence beginning “This, full time work…” is also awkwardly connected to the previous point. There are problems with articles, agreement and sentence construction in phrases such as “the largest proportion of Anthropology fgraduates” and “Freelance consultants and governments both represented similar figure.” Build complete sentences with an explicit subject and verb, check verb forms after prepositions, and use punctuation to separate comparisons. More consistent control would make your range of structures clearer.

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

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