Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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 8.5)

The bar chart compares the percentages of Australian men and women in six different age groups who participated in regular physical activity in 2010.

Overall, women were more physically active than men in all age groups except the youngest group and those aged 65 and over. The highest proportion of female participation was recorded among 45–54-year-olds, while the figure for men was highest among 15–24-year-olds.

Among men aged 15–24, 52.8% participated in regular physical activity, compared with 47.7% of women. However, male participation declined considerably to 42.2% among those aged 25–34 and then reached its lowest point of 39.5% in the 35–44 age group. After this, the figure increased gradually, reaching 43.1% for 45–54-year-olds and 45.1% for those aged 55–64. Among men aged 65 and over, participation rose further to 46.7%.

In contrast, female participation increased from 47.7% among 15–24-year-olds to 48.9% in the 25–34 group and 52.5% among 35–44-year-olds. It peaked at 53.3% for women aged 45–54 before falling slightly to 53% among 55–64-year-olds. In the oldest group, the figure dropped sharply to 47.1%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the bar chart, including the overall trends and specific data points for both genders across all age groups. The comparison between men and women is clear and consistent throughout the report. You have provided a well-structured overview that highlights the main differences, such as the peak participation ages and the general trend of female participation being higher in most groups. The data is accurately reported and supports your summary effectively, fulfilling all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group information by gender. This structure makes the information easy to follow. You have used cohesive devices such as 'However', 'After this', 'In contrast', and 'while' effectively to link ideas and contrast the data sets. The progression of information is smooth, and each paragraph has a clear central topic. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the analysis of male and female participation.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You have used a wide range of vocabulary appropriate for a data-driven task. Phrases such as 'highest proportion', 'declined considerably', 'reached its lowest point', and 'dropped sharply' demonstrate a sophisticated control of lexical items. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and fits the academic context of the task perfectly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentences, such as 'The bar chart compares the percentages of Australian men and women in six different age groups who participated in regular physical activity in 2010.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, and the sentence variety keeps the writing engaging and professional.

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