Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-31

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 Anthropology graduates from one university did after their undergraduate degree course and the table displays the salaries of the anthropologists in work after five years.

The data from the pie chart shows that 52 percent of the Anthropology graduates got a full-time jod after their graduation while the other 13 percent continued with their postgraduate studies. From those who advanced to their postgraduate studies, 5 percent got a part-time job, whereas the other 8 percent stay focused on their studies. And from the remaining 35 percent, 15 percent got a part-time job and 12 percent remained unemployed but 8 percent stayed unknown.

The table displays 3 type of emplyoments of anthropology graduates did such as freelance consultant. government sector and private companies. The data shows that 80 percent of governemnt sectors earned 75,000 to over 100,000 dollars annually and another 80 percent for freelance consultants but only 55 percent for private companies. Thus, those who work in private companies earning more between 25,000 to 74,999 dollar per year which is around 45 percent of them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify both visuals and report several key figures, including 52% in full-time work and the broad salary pattern for each employment type. However, the response does not give a clear overall summary of the main features, and some data are misinterpreted. The 13% in postgraduate study combines 5% in part-time work plus study and 8% in full-time study; it is not simply that graduates “continued with their postgraduate studies” in the same way. More importantly, the salary figures are grouped incorrectly: 80% of government employees earned $75,000 or more, but only 80% of freelance consultants did so; private-company employees in the $25,000–$74,999 bands total 45%, not “around 45 percent” as a distinct comparison without clarifying the bands. Select and compare the most important features more accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, understandable structure: it introduces the two visuals, discusses graduate destinations, and then turns to salaries. Linking phrases such as “while,” “whereas,” and “Thus” help connect some comparisons. However, progression within the second paragraph is difficult to follow: “From those who advanced…” and “from the remaining 35 percent” make the categories sound like sequential groups, although they are separate destinations in the chart. The salary paragraph also moves from the 80% figures to the lower salary bands without clearly explaining the comparison. Use one paragraph for each visual, group related figures, and make references explicit so readers can follow which category each percentage describes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “graduates,” “postgraduate studies,” “unemployed,” “freelance consultant,” and “government sector,” so the topic is generally clear. There is some repetition of “data shows” and “percent,” and several word-choice, spelling, or form errors reduce precision: “jod,” “emplyoments,” and “governemnt” are noticeable, while “stayed unknown” is not a natural way to describe the chart category. “Got a job” is understandable but informal for an academic summary. Aim for accurate, concise reporting language and check spelling carefully. For example, use “were employed full time,” “the proportion,” and “the destination was not known” to describe the information more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including clauses joined with “while,” “whereas,” and “but,” and the main message is usually understandable. However, control is uneven in longer constructions. In “the other 8 percent stay focused on their studies,” the past-tense reporting requires “stayed”; similarly, “those who work in private companies earning more” needs a complete, correctly formed clause, such as “those working in private companies earned more.” There are also agreement and number issues in “3 type of emplyoments” and “government sectors.” Use consistent past-tense reporting, check singular and plural forms, and divide long sentences when several percentages are being compared.

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

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