Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-30

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 six different age groups who engaged in regular physical activities in 2010.

Overall, women were more physically active then men in all age groups except those aged 15-24.

So Among 15-24 years old, men recorded the highest male participation rate, at 52.8% as compared with 47.7% for women. We can clearly observe that in this men are more physically active then women.

In 25-34 years old, women recorded the highest participation rate, at 48.9% as compared with 42.2% for men.

In this, the ratio of participating in physical activity, women are increased then men.

For the age group of 35-44 years old, men participation rate were 39.5% as compared to 52.5% for women that was extremely high participating rate.

Highest participation rate in age group 45-54, women participating with the ratio of 53.3% and men with 43.1% .

We can clearly see that participating ratio of women is increased and men is gradually decreased.

For age groups 65 and above, the ratio of men is 46.7% and women is 47.1% which is approximately equals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task and identifies key features, such as the gender differences across age groups. However, the analysis is somewhat repetitive and lacks a cohesive synthesis of the data. While the main trends are identified, the reporting of figures is occasionally clunky, such as the phrase 'women participating with the ratio of 53.3%'. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping data more effectively rather than listing each age group in a separate, repetitive sentence. The overview is present but could be more analytical by focusing on the broader patterns of participation rather than just stating that women were more active.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by repetitive sentence structures. Each paragraph starts in a similar way, which makes the flow feel mechanical. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often basic or misused, such as starting a sentence with 'So Among'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring back to previous data points. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus rather than just listing data points sequentially.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You frequently use the word 'ratio' where 'percentage' or 'proportion' would be more accurate. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'women are increased then men' instead of 'women's participation was higher than men's'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is a reliance on simple descriptive terms. To improve, try to incorporate more varied ways of describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'surpassed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with comparative structures ('more physically active then men' should be 'than men') and subject-verb agreement ('men participation rate were'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering comparative forms and ensuring consistent verb tense usage.

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

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