Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17

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 illustrates the percentage of Australian men and women in different age group who did regular physical activity in 2010.

Overall, at younger age the ratio of men is more than women and as the age increases the ratio of women increased and at one point both the numbers of males and females closed to each other.

In age group of 15 to 24 the number of men is 52.8% while the ratio of women is 47.7%. In 25 to 34 group, the value of males is 42.2% whereas the females are 48.9%. In age of 35 to 44, the figure of men are at 39.5% and women at 52.5%.

People belonging to 45 to 54 ages, the amount of males are 43.1% and females are 53.3%. Individuals in 55 to 64 age set, we see men at 45.1% and women at 53%. Those who are in the age of 65 and over, males are 46.7% and on the other hand females at 47.1.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task and provides a clear overview of the main trends. You successfully identified that men participate more in the youngest age group, while women generally have higher participation rates in older age groups. However, the report is somewhat mechanical, as it lists data points for each age group sequentially without fully synthesizing the information. To reach a higher band, focus on grouping data more effectively to highlight the most significant comparisons rather than listing every single figure provided in the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different age groups. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and basic. Phrases like 'In age group of' and 'Individuals in' are used to start sentences, which makes the flow feel a bit mechanical. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, such as 'Conversely,' 'In contrast,' or 'Following this trend.'

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks variety and precision. You frequently use the word 'ratio' and 'value' to describe percentages, which is not always accurate in this context. For example, 'the value of males is 42.2%' is better expressed as 'the proportion of males was 42.2%'. There is also a lack of sophisticated vocabulary related to data description. Incorporating more precise terms like 'fluctuated,' 'remained constant,' or 'surpassed' would demonstrate a stronger command of lexical resources.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'the figure of men are at 39.5%' contains a subject-verb agreement error ('figure' is singular, so 'is' should be used). Additionally, there are minor errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'In age of 35 to 44' instead of 'In the 35 to 44 age group'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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