Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26
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 variety of age category who did regular physical activity in 2010.
Overall, the percentage varies from 39.5 is the lowest and 53.3 is the highest in male and female categories. The graph shows age group starting from 15 to over 65.
Starting with the first bar chart in 15 to 24 age group for male group. The percentage starts at 52.8 for the male category in 15 to 24 age group. Then the graph fell to 42.2 percentage for 25 to 34 age group. The graph continued to decrease to reach 39.5 for 35 to 44 age group. Then it finally starts increasing to 43.1 for 45 to 54 age category. Then the graph completed its growth for 65 and over group reaching 46.7.
Turning to the female group. It starts at 47.7 for 15 to 24 age group. Then it slightly increased to 48.9 in 25 to 34 age group. Then the graph continued to grow for 35 to 44 group reaching 52.5. The graph increased to 53.3 for 45 to 54 group. The graph started to decrease slightly to reach 53 for 55 to 64 group type. The graph completed its decrease to reach 47.1 for 65 and over group.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all parts of the task and identifies key trends. You have successfully highlighted the highest and lowest points for both genders. However, the overview is slightly weak; instead of listing specific numbers like '39.5' and '53.3' in the overview, it is better to describe the general trends or the most significant contrast between the groups. You have accurately selected and reported the main features, but the analysis could be improved by making more direct comparisons between men and women within the same age brackets, rather than describing each gender in isolation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs for each gender. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Starting with', 'Turning to', and 'Then', which helps the flow. However, the use of 'The graph' at the start of almost every sentence in the body paragraphs makes the writing feel repetitive and mechanical. To improve, vary your sentence starters and use more sophisticated linking phrases to connect the data points, such as 'In contrast', 'Conversely', or 'Meanwhile', to better show the relationship between the data sets.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. You use terms like 'illustrates', 'percentage', 'category', and 'regular physical activity' appropriately. However, the vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. For example, you frequently use the word 'graph' and 'increased/decreased'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a decline'. Additionally, watch for minor word choice errors, such as 'in variety of age category', which should be 'in a variety of age categories'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, '39.5 is the lowest' should be '39.5% was the lowest figure'. There are also issues with articles and pluralization, such as 'in male and female categories' (should be 'in the male and female categories'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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