Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-24

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 compares the proportion of different age groups, men and women in Australia doing physical activity regularly in the period of 2010.

Overall, The women age group of 45 to 54 years old was the largest area. while men aged 35 to 44 years old remained the lowest category throughout the period.

In 2010, male aged 15 to 24 was accounted for 52.8% and women around 47.7%. whereas the age group of women 45 to 54 represented the highest area 53.3%, while male covered 43.1%. Similarly, women aged 55 to 64stood at 53% with male to 45.1%.

Furthermore, 48.9% women group of 25 to 34 age covered, in comparison with male at 42.2%. Age group of 35 to 44 women had the 52.5% while male stood at only 39.5. On the other hand, 46.7% male and 47.1% showed the age group of 65 and over in 2010.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a summary of the main features and makes some comparisons. However, it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the task achievement. While the key data points are identified, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, simply listing percentages rather than synthesising the information effectively. The overview is present but could be more clearly articulated to highlight the most significant trends. To improve, ensure you meet the length requirement and focus on grouping data to show clear comparisons between genders and age groups rather than listing each category individually.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical (e.g., 'In 2010', 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand'). The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the final paragraph where the data presentation feels a bit rushed. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, such as grouping age ranges by their activity levels rather than jumping between them.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'women age group of 45 to 54 years old was the largest area' and 'male aged 15 to 24 was accounted for'. The word 'area' is used incorrectly to describe a demographic group. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for data description, such as 'proportion', 'demographic', or 'percentage', and ensure collocations are natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'male aged 15 to 24 was accounted for' (should be 'males aged... accounted for') and 'women aged 55 to 64 stood at 53% with male to 45.1%' (which is grammatically incomplete). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. Focus on proofreading for basic agreement and preposition usage.

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

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