Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-19

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 gives a brief summary about the males and females in Australia who did regular physical activities in 2010. To start of with the information it has been shown that the males in their age of 15 to 24 are mostly likely to be a part of regular physical activity. Whereas in the case of females it's a little different as according to the statistics the women in the age between 45 to 54 are more into physical activities with a percentage of 55.3 which is the highest among all age groups. Other than this if we look at the percentage of men in these years it has been shown that they are the least likely to engage in physical activities perhaps due to work life and other responsibilities. However overall the chart represents that most of the population of Australia tends to be a part of some physical activities in the young age as well as in old age too, mainly to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response identifies some key features, such as the highest participation rates for men and women. However, it fails to provide a comprehensive overview or a systematic comparison across all age groups. The analysis is somewhat superficial, and the inclusion of speculative reasoning (e.g., 'perhaps due to work life') is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which requires objective data description. To improve, ensure all data points are clearly referenced and avoid adding personal opinions or external explanations not present in the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is written as a single paragraph, which hinders the logical flow and readability. While there is a basic attempt to sequence ideas, the lack of paragraphing makes it difficult to distinguish between the introduction, the body, and the summary. Cohesive devices are used, but they are somewhat mechanical (e.g., 'To start of with', 'Other than this'). To reach a higher band, you should structure your response into clear paragraphs: an introduction, a summary of main trends, and specific details grouped logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. Phrases like 'more into physical activities' and 'most likely to be a part of' are informal and repetitive. There is a limited range of academic vocabulary used to describe trends or data. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for describing statistics, such as 'participation rates,' 'fluctuations,' or 'a significant proportion,' and avoid colloquial phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'To start of with' should be 'To start off with,' and 'in the age of 15 to 24' is awkward phrasing. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional accuracy. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency of the text. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage.

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

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