Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-04

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 graph illustrates the proportion of Australian men and women of different age groups, performing physical activities in 2010.

Overall, the figures of men, began to decline at the age of 24, while, the numbers rose after the age of 44. On the other, it was totally opposite for women.

Initially, 52.8% of men used participate in activities, while, the numbers gradually fall just below the average till 39.5%. However, the numbers gained an increase and at the age of 65, the number almost exceeded the proportion of women, falling behind with the difference of 0.4%. In addition, the percentage of women were lower at the start, whereas, it soared constantly by the age group of 45 to 54. The figures fell down considerably after it. The graph of women peaked at 53.3%, while, the numbers of male were highest at 52.8%.

The bar graph, depicts the comparison between the male and female doing physical activities. Starting at the age of 15 and going until 65 onwards.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons between the age groups and genders. You highlighted the key peaks and troughs, such as the women's peak at 45–54 and the men's decline. However, the report lacks precision in data reporting. For instance, stating that men's figures 'began to decline at the age of 24' is not supported by the data, which shows a decline from the 15–24 bracket. Additionally, the description of the data at age 65 is slightly confusing. To improve, ensure that your data points are accurate and that you clearly distinguish between age brackets and specific ages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence starters. The use of cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'whereas' is present but sometimes mechanical. The final paragraph is redundant, as it repeats information already mentioned in the introduction and body, and it does not contribute to the overall flow of the summary. To improve, focus on linking sentences more fluidly and avoid restating the task prompt in the conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, using terms like 'proportion', 'exceeded', and 'soared'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the figures of men, began to decline' (figures do not decline, the percentage does) and 'the numbers of male' (should be 'the number of males'). The phrasing 'falling behind with the difference of 0.4%' is also slightly unnatural. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and noun phrases would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement, such as 'the percentage of women were lower' (should be 'was') and 'the numbers of male were highest' (should be 'was'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas frequently interrupting the flow of your sentences. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency of the writing.

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

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