Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-10

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 8.0)

The bar chart illustrates the proportion of Australian males and females across six different age brackets who engaged in regular physical activity during the year 2010.

Overall, a higher percentage of females participated in regular exercise compared to males in almost all age categories, except among the youngest demographic. Additionally, activity levels among women generally increased with age up to middle age, whereas men showed a declining trend after early adulthood before recovering slightly in old age.

Among young adults aged 15 to 24, males recorded the highest participation rate across all male age groups, standing at 52.8%, whereas females in this category registered their lowest level at 47.7%. However, this pattern reversed sharply in the 25–34 age group, where the proportion of active men dropped to 42.2% while active women rose to 48.9%.

From ages 35 to 64, female engagement remained consistently dominant and stable, ranging between 52.5% and 53.3%. In contrast, male participation dipped to its lowest point of 39.5% in the 35–44 age bracket before gradually increasing to 43.1% for those aged 45–54 and 45.1% for the 55–64 cohort. Finally, in the oldest group (65 and over), the gap narrowed significantly, with activity levels for men and women converging at 46.7% and 47.1%, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have clearly identified the main features of the data and provided a logical summary. The overview effectively captures the key trends, such as the general female dominance in physical activity and the contrasting patterns between age groups. You have supported your points with accurate data points, such as the 52.8% for young males and the convergence at the oldest age bracket. The comparison between genders is consistent throughout the report, meeting all requirements of the task. The information is well-selected and presented in a way that makes the data easy to follow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively by age range. Cohesive devices are used naturally and accurately, such as 'Additionally', 'In contrast', and 'Finally', which help guide the reader through the comparison. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the analysis. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the general overview to specific age-based details without any confusion. The referencing is clear, and the structure supports the overall argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'engaged in regular physical activity', 'declining trend', 'registered their lowest level', and 'converging at' show a sophisticated command of language. The word choices are accurate and appropriate for an academic report. There are no spelling errors, and the use of terminology is precise. You successfully avoid repetition by using varied synonyms for 'participation' and 'proportion', which contributes to the fluency of the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of complex structures, including subordinate clauses and comparative constructions, used with high accuracy. Sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation is excellent. You successfully manage complex comparisons, such as 'whereas men showed a declining trend after early adulthood before recovering slightly in old age'. The grammar is consistently accurate throughout the text, and there are no slips that impede communication. The variety of sentence structures keeps the writing engaging and professional.

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