Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-16
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 provided bar cart illustrates the proportion of different age groups of men and women living in Australia who engaged in daily physical exercise in 2010.
Overall, it is clear that the female demographic was significantly more engaged in physical exercise, with the exception of young males. Furthermore, the most dramatic change in proportion between the two was observed in the middle age groups, In contrast the figure for senior citizens was almost the same.
In terms of young individuals, 52.8% of men were actively taking part in regular exercise as compared to women, who were at 47.7% between the the age of 15 to 24. This is the only age group where males dominated the females. Following this the next age group of 25 to 34, females were at 48.9% and males at 42.2%. Females remained more active in daily life in the next age group as well, of 35 to 44 where they were at 52.5% than men at 39.5%, which is the lowest among all age groups.
In the age group 45 to 54, highest proportion of females took part in regular exercise accounting for 53.3% as compared to
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 student attempts to provide an overview and report the main features of the bar chart, accurately noting the gender trends across age groups (such as young males being more active and women leading in middle age groups). However, the response trails off mid-sentence at the end ('accounting for 53.3% as compared to') and is incomplete. Due to this unfinished conclusion, the overview and data coverage are cut short, preventing full development of the task. This places the response firmly in Band 5.0 for partially addressing the requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response demonstrates a clear attempt at logical organisation with a standard overview paragraph and transitional markers like 'In terms of young individuals' and 'Following this'. However, cohesion is disrupted by run-on errors (e.g., comma splices such as 'middle age groups, In contrast the figure') and repetition of cohesive structures. Furthermore, because the essay is cut off abruptly at the end, paragraphing and overall progression remain incomplete. These issues justify a Band 5.5 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms like 'proportion', 'demographic', and 'senior citizens'. There are minor vocabulary and spelling slips, such as 'bar cart' instead of 'bar chart', and some repetitive phrasing when discussing percentages. Less common lexical items are attempted but lack precision or natural collocation. Communication is generally clear despite these limitations, making Band 6.0 appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and comparative forms ('as compared to women, who were at...'). There are noticeable punctuation and grammatical errors, including comma splices ('...middle age groups, In contrast the figure...'), missing prepositions, and an unfinished sentence at the conclusion. While simple sentences are generally accurate, complex forms introduce errors that occasionally distract the reader, supporting a Band 5.5 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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