Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The bar chart below shows the percentage of Australian men and women in different age groups who did regular physical activity in 2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

THe bar chart given illustrates the average proportion of male and female audience in Australlia belonging to different age groups who participated in regular physical activity in 2010.

Overall it can be seen that the most dominant group has been the females from all differenet age groups except from 15 to 24 years age and the least have been men in all categories except the age group from 15 to 24 where men remained more dominant.

The men to women ratio in age group 15 to 24 remained 52.8 to 47.7 percentage making the men category more dominanat over women.As for the age group of 25 to 34 the men to women ratio taking part in physical exercise was 42.2 to 48.9.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the chart’s subject and give a relevant overview: women recorded higher participation in every age group except 15–24, where men were higher. The two figures you report for 15–24 and 25–34 are accurate. However, the response covers only those two groups and omits the important pattern across ages 35 and over, including the female peak at 45–54 and the rise in male participation after its low at 35–44. The overview’s claim that men were the least active in all other categories is broadly supported, but the report needs more selected data and clearer comparisons to summarise the chart adequately. It is also 28 words below the required minimum, which limits the detail provided.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, an overall statement, and then specific comparisons. This gives the reader a basic framework, and phrases such as “Overall” and “As for” signal a shift between points. However, the report stops after discussing the first two age groups, so there is no progression through the remaining data or concluding comparison. Some links are also awkward: the overview’s “except from” construction and the transition into the final sentence make the relationships less smooth. Organise the body by comparing the age groups in a clear order, and use a separate paragraph to report the remaining figures and trends. This would create more complete progression rather than a sequence that ends abruptly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “proportion,” “age groups,” “regular physical activity,” and “ratio,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “Overall it can be seen.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “male and female audience” does not describe the people represented, and “most dominant” and “more dominant” are imprecise for chart comparisons. Spelling errors such as “Australlia,” “differenet,” and “dominanat” are noticeable and reduce control. Aim for precise chart language, for example “participation rate,” “higher proportion,” and “lowest rate,” and check spelling carefully. This would make the limited range more accurate and appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both a complex opening sentence and a longer overview, and the main message is usually understandable. The response also uses present-perfect forms, as in “has been,” and a comparative structure in “more dominant over women.” However, sentence control is uneven. The opening has an unclear construction around “male and female audience … belonging to different age groups,” while “the least have been men” lacks a clear grammatical subject and natural structure. There are also punctuation problems, including no space after the full stop before “As for,” and the final comparison is not clearly punctuated. Use simpler, controlled sentences such as “Women had higher rates in five age groups,” then add accurate comparative clauses to show a wider range without sacrificing clarity.

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

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