Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-22

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 illurtrates the activities performed by anthropology graduates after completing their degrees and the table shows salaries in different sectors after 5 years work.

Overall, the most popular activity of anthraopology was working full-time and the less common activity was not known.In case od salaries the high providing salary sector was government sector.

First of all, a significant numbers of graduates worked full-time making the top in the list with 52% graduates,followed by part-time worked graduates at about 15%.12% graduates was unable in getting a job.The others figures showed a less proportions in postgrad study+part-time work,full-time postgrad study with 5% and 8%.

By contrast, in terms of salaries government sector provided with highest salaries and freelance consultants ranked second.Private companies was least salary providing compa

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main destination correctly: full-time work accounts for 52%, and you note that part-time work is next at 15%. However, the report only partly covers the task. The salary table is mentioned in general terms, but no salary figures or meaningful comparisons are reported, and the claim that government offered the highest salaries is too broad: its largest group was in the $100,000+ band (50%), while freelance consultants had 40% in that band and private companies 30%. The overview also calls “not known” the least common destination, although part-time work plus postgraduate study was lower at 5%. The response is 127 words, below the required 150, so several key features remain undeveloped. Include accurate comparisons across both visuals.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph about graduate destinations, and a final paragraph beginning the salary comparison. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and transitions such as “Overall,” “First of all,” and “By contrast” help signal shifts. However, the final paragraph is cut off at “least salary providing compa,” leaving the comparison incomplete and disrupting the progression. Some linking is also mechanical, and the overview combines two different findings without clearly separating them. Develop the salary paragraph fully, group related figures together, and use clearer links between the chart and table so the report feels complete and consistently organised.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “graduates,” “full-time,” “postgrad study,” “salaries,” and “government sector,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or unnatural expressions make parts difficult to interpret, such as “the high providing salary sector,” “making the top in the list,” and “less salary providing.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “illurtrates” and “anthraopology,” which reduce clarity. Aim for precise chart language and natural collocations, for example “the highest-paying sector,” “accounting for the largest share,” and “the lowest salary band.” Check spelling carefully and avoid forcing phrases that do not sound natural in English.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the overview sentence beginning “Overall” and the comparison introduced by “followed by.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent. Examples include “12% graduates was unable” (missing “of” and incorrect agreement), “the others figures showed a less proportions” (number and article errors), and “Private companies was” (subject–verb disagreement). The sentence “the less common activity was not known” also needs clearer grammatical framing to express the category accurately. Punctuation spacing is inconsistent, and the final sentence is incomplete. Use a reliable pattern such as “X% of graduates were…” and check agreement, articles, plurals, and sentence completion. More accurate control of these basic structures would make your comparisons easier to follow.

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

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