Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-29

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 6.0)

The pie chart illustrates what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree course, while table illustrates the salaries of the anthropologists graduates after five years work. Units are measured in percentages.

Overall, it is clear that majority of graduates did full-time work, while the graduates who was not known and did full-time postgrad study were equal. After five years, most graduates in all three types of employment were in the higher salary bands, with government employees the most likely to reach the top band and private company employees more concentrated in the lower ones.

Well over half of all anthropology graduates were in either employed in full-time or part-time work (52% and 15% respectively) as opposed to only 12% who became unemployed. For those who did part-time work plus postgrad study were only 5% and those who did full-time postgrad study was 8%. Only 8% of graduates were not know, equal to full-time postgrad study.

Looking at the table, only 5% of freelance consultants and government sector earn $25,000 - 49,999, while 15% earn $50,000 - 74,999. 40% of freelance consultants earn $75,000 - 99,999 and $100,000+, as opposed to 30% and 50% for government sector. For private companies, 10% earn $25,000 - 49,999, 35% earn $50,000 - 74,999, 25% earn $75,000 - 99,999 and 30% earn $100,000+.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover both visuals and provide a relevant overview: full-time work is the largest destination, and government employees have the highest share in the top salary band. Most figures are reported accurately, including the equal 8% shares for graduates whose destination was unknown and those in full-time postgraduate study. The comparison of salary distributions is also useful. To make the summary more complete, clarify that the table describes salary bands among graduates in work after five years, and develop the overview with a sharper contrast: private-company employees are more concentrated in the middle bands, while the other two groups have larger shares earning $75,000 or more. The main features are selected well, but some comparisons could be synthesised rather than listed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph on graduate destinations and a final paragraph on salaries. This makes the two visuals easy to follow, and phrases such as “Looking at the table” signal the shift between them. However, the salary paragraph becomes a sequence of figures, with limited comparison between the three employment types. Some links are also awkward or unclear, particularly “For those who did part-time work plus postgrad study were only 5%,” where the sentence structure interrupts the progression. Grouping related salary bands and using clearer comparative links would create smoother development. Overall, the organisation is coherent, though cohesion is sometimes mechanical and the progression within the data paragraphs could be more deliberate.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “graduates,” “salary bands,” “freelance consultants” and “government sector.” The overview also uses comparative language such as “most likely” and “more concentrated,” helping to summarise the data rather than merely repeat it. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “the anthropologists graduates” is redundant, “were in either employed” is not idiomatic, and “were not know” uses the wrong form. “Units are measured in percentages” is also an awkward way to describe the figures. These slips do not prevent understanding, but more precise phrasing would improve control. Aim for natural expressions such as “graduates’ destinations” and “accounted for” when reporting proportions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including the contrast in “while the table illustrates…” and the comparison introduced by “as opposed to.” The overview is also expressed through a longer sentence with two linked clauses. However, some grammatical errors recur. In the introduction, “while table illustrates” needs an article, and “after five years work” needs a possessive form or a preposition. Agreement and clause structure are problematic in “the graduates who was not known” and “For those who did part-time work plus postgrad study were only 5%.” The sentence “those who did full-time postgrad study was 8%” also has a subject–verb agreement error. These issues are generally understandable, but checking articles, agreement and sentence construction would make the range more accurate.

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.