Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-02
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 men and women doing physical activity in different age group in 2010. Overall, the percentage of women doing regular activity was generally higher that that of men except among people aged 15 -24 this figure for men and women were almost identical in the 65 and over age group.
Among people aged 15-24 men had higher rate of physical activity at 52.8 compared with 47.7 for women. The figure for men then fell to 42.2 among those aged 25-34 and reach a low of 39.5 35-44 aged group. After that it increased gradually reaching 43.1 among 45-54 years old and 45.1 among those aged 55-64.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the summary is incomplete; it only covers the 15-64 age range for men and fails to provide any data for women beyond the 15-24 age group. The overview is present but lacks a comprehensive summary of the trends across all age groups. To improve, you must ensure all data categories are addressed and the response meets the length requirement to allow for a full development of the main features and comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into two paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a short report. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the data presentation. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall' and 'Among', but the transition between the overview and the body paragraph is abrupt. The lack of a concluding summary or a more detailed body paragraph makes the overall flow feel disjointed. Improving the use of linking words to connect comparisons between genders would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'regular activity', and 'increased gradually'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as '35-44 aged group' instead of 'the 35-44 age group'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To achieve a higher band score, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and ensure correct collocation when referring to age groups and statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. For example, 'this figure for men and women were almost identical' contains a subject-verb agreement error. Additionally, there are missing articles and prepositions, such as 'in 35-44 aged group'. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, the frequent errors in basic grammar and punctuation limit the score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent use of articles, and ensuring that sentence structures are grammatically sound, particularly when reporting complex statistical comparisons.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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