Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-25

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 illustrates what Antropology graduates from a univeristy did after completing their undergraduate course. The table compares salaries of Antrhopology graduates after gaining working experience in three sectors ( Freelance consultants, Government sector, Private companies).

Overall, most of the graduates joined full-time job, and fewer of them did part-time work and postgraduate study simultenously. Government sector jobs are payed highest salary, followed by Freelance consultants.

In a univeristy, after completing Anthropology course, the number of students accounted for full-time work cover largest proportion of the share, at 52%, but fewer students did part-time work and postgrad study, at 5%. Graduate joined Full-time postgrad study covered 8% of the total share, equal to the people whos work is unknown.

After 5 years of working experience, graduates received highest salary at government sectgor. The number of employee get salary above $[redacted phone], at 50%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main destination clearly: full-time work is the largest group at 52%, while the combined part-time-work-and-study category is smallest at 5%. You also note that full-time postgraduate study and unknown destinations are both 8%. However, the report covers the table only minimally: it gives the government-sector figure of 50% earning $100,000 or more, but omits the salary distributions for freelance consultants and private companies, as well as most government figures. The overview’s claim that government jobs pay the highest is only partly supported, since freelance consultants also have 40% in the top two salary bands. The response is seven words below the required minimum. Include key comparisons across both visuals and develop them with accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, a brief overview, and separate paragraphs for the destination chart and salary table. This makes the two visuals easy to distinguish, and phrases such as “Overall” and “After 5 years” help signal progression. However, the salary paragraph is very brief and does not develop the comparison, so the report’s progression feels incomplete. Some linking and reference are also awkward, as in “In a university, after completing Anthropology course,” which does not clearly connect the sentence to the chart’s categories. Build the final paragraph around comparisons between sectors and salary bands, and use clearer transitions such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “graduates,” “full-time work,” “postgrad study,” “salary,” and “sectors,” so the topic is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language, such as “illustrates” and “compares.” However, several inaccurate or misspelled forms reduce precision: “Antropology,” “univeristy,” “Antrhopology,” “simultenously,” and “sectgor.” Some collocations are unnatural, including “joined full-time job,” “covered largest proportion of the share,” and “received highest salary at government sector.” Prefer concise, conventional chart language—for example, “worked full-time,” “accounted for the largest proportion,” and “the highest salary band”—and check spelling carefully. This would make your vocabulary more accurate and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a complex opening with “after completing their undergraduate course” and comparisons using “at 52%” and “equal to.” The main information is usually recoverable, but some grammatical patterns are not controlled consistently. For example, “Government sector jobs are payed highest salary” lacks an article and has an awkward passive construction, while “The number of employee get salary above $100000” has problems with number agreement and verb form. “Graduate joined Full-time postgrad study covered 8%” also combines clauses without a clear grammatical relationship. Use straightforward structures such as “The proportion of graduates in full-time work was 52%” and “Half of government employees earned $100,000 or more.” Check articles, plurals, and subject–verb agreement when revising.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.