Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-27
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 chart compares the proportion of Australian men and women in distinct age groups who did regular physical activity in 2010.
Overall, 15-24 years men accounted for regular exercise, while women of 35 to 64 years recorded the same. Both men and women of 65 and over age group represented the same figures.
Looking at the details, women who are between 35 to 64 age group their regular activity percentage hovered around 53%, whereas for men it was different ( for 35 to 44, 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 represented 39.5%, 43.1% and 45.1% respectively. Interestingly, both men and women who are 65 and above stood at almost same figure, 46.7% for the former and 47.1% for the latter.
Moreover, 15 to 24 age group, showed a marginal difference of 5.1 percentage points ( 52.8% for men, for women it was 47.7% ). 48.9% women who are between 25 to 34 age did regular physical activity; for men between the same age group made up 42.2%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons across the age groups. The overall trend is attempted, though the opening overview sentence is grammatically incomplete and confusing ('15-24 years men accounted for regular exercise, while women of 35 to 64 years recorded the same'). Data points are generally reported accurately, such as citing 39.5%, 43.1%, and 45.1% for men aged 35 to 64, and the figures for those aged 65 and above. However, the selection of features could be structured more cohesively to highlight the broader trends, such as women peaking in middle age while men were most active in their youth. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, earning a band score of 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is arranged coherently with a clear introduction and body paragraphs breaking down the data by age groups. However, paragraphing and logical progression are slightly hindered by awkward phrasing and abrupt transitions. For instance, the sentence 'women who are between 35 to 64 age group their regular activity percentage hovered around 53%' suffers from poor referencing and structural control. Cohesive devices are used, but some referencing is faulty, and sentences can feel mechanical or run-on. Paragraphs are present, but internal cohesion requires better linking to ensure a smooth flow of ideas throughout the report. This places the response firmly at Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'proportion', 'marginal difference', and 'percentage points'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, but some awkward word choices and phrasing occur, such as 'accounted for regular exercise' or 'stood at almost same figure'. Word formation and collocation errors are noticeable, such as '25 to 34 age' instead of '25 to 34 age group'. Spelling and basic word choices are correct and do not impede communication, but precision and flexibility are limited, justifying a Band 6.0 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and comparative statements. However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several structural errors and awkward clauses, such as 'women who are between 35 to 64 age group their regular activity percentage hovered around 53%', which features a double subject error. Punctuation errors, such as awkward bracket placement '( for 35 to 44...' and extra spaces inside parentheses, are also present. While simple sentences are generally correct, complex structures frequently contain errors that cause some friction for the reader, leading to a band score of 5.5.
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