Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-20

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 proportion of Australian males and females in distinct age groups who did daily physical activity in 2010.

Overall, women did highest percentage of physical activity, while men did lowest in the given age groups in 2010. Furthermore, the last age group of males and females did almost same percentage of activity in the given year.

To begin with, the highest percentage of activity (53.3%) was noticed in women in 45 to 54 age group and lowest (43.1) was in men in 2010. 52.8% and 47.7% of men and women did activity in first age group in 2010. 7% of difference was witnessed between males and females activity in the 25 to 34 age group.

Furthermore, 52.5% and 53% of women daily physical activity was noticed in third and fifth age group, while 39.5% and 45.1% in men in the given year. The almost same percentage of men and women activity was

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, such as the highest and lowest points. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks a clear, logical structure in reporting the data. The final sentence is incomplete, which is a significant issue as it leaves the task unfinished. While the overview identifies general trends, the data selection is slightly disjointed, and the comparison between age groups is not fully developed. To improve, ensure all sentences are complete and provide a more systematic comparison of the data points across all age categories rather than listing isolated figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete final sentence and some awkward phrasing. Cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Furthermore' are used, but they feel somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the age groups, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between men and women. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'did highest percentage' and 'did almost same percentage' are repetitive and grammatically awkward. There is a reliance on simple, functional language. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'the highest proportion,' 'a significant difference,' or 'remained consistent.' Avoid repeating the same verbs and structures throughout the text to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'women did highest percentage' lacks the necessary articles, and '7% of difference was witnessed' is phrased unnaturally. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and missing prepositions. The incomplete sentence at the end is a major grammatical failure. Focusing on basic sentence construction, article usage, and ensuring all sentences are complete will help improve your score in this criterion.

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

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