Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-30

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 6.5)

The bar chart illustrates the percentages of Australian men and women in six different age groups who engaged in regular physical activity in 2010.

Overall, women were more physically active than men in most age groups, with the exception of those aged 15–24. The highest proportion of active men was recorded among the 15–24 age group, whereas women reached their highest level of participation among those aged 45–54.

Among men, approximately 52.8% of those aged 15–24 participated in regular physical activity, compared with around 47.5% of women. The figure for men then declined considerably to about 42.2% among 25–34-year-olds and remained relatively stable at approximately 39.5% for those aged 35–44. It subsequently rose slightly to around 43.1% among 45–54-year-olds before falling to 39.5% and 46.7% for the 55–64 and 65+ age groups respectively.

In contrast, the proportion of women exercising regularly generally increased with age. It stood at approximately 48.9% among 25–34-year-olds and rose to 52.5% for those aged 35–44. The figure reached a peak of about 53.3% in the 45–54 age group, before falling slightly to 53.0% among 55–64-year-olds. Among women aged 65 and over, the proportion dropped more noticeably to approximately 47.1%.

Overall, the most notable difference is that male participation fluctuated considerably, while female participation remained relatively high and stable, particularly among middle-aged Australians.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and selecting key features and comparisons from the chart. The opening correctly summarises the overall trend, and the body paragraphs accurately report data points. For instance, the student correctly identifies that the highest proportion of active men was in the 15-24 age group (52.8%) and that women reached a peak in the 45-54 age group (53.3%). However, there is a minor contradiction in the body text regarding male figures for the 55-64 age group, where the text states it fell to '39.5%', whereas the data shows it was 45.1% (39.5% was actually the figure for 35-44-year-olds, which was mentioned correctly earlier). Despite this minor data misreading, the overall response is well-developed, accurate, and fulfills the task requirements effectively, fitting the criteria for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with clear progression throughout. It begins with a suitable introduction, moves into a clear overall statement, details the age groups systematically in body paragraphs, and concludes with a summary statement. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with separate paragraphs dedicated to men and women respectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'whereas', and 'subsequently' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader through the data comparisons. Referencing is generally clear, though paragraph transitions could be slightly smoother. The organisation overall demonstrates clear logical progression, meeting the standard for Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common vocabulary items and phrases are used effectively, such as 'proportion', 'participated', 'declined considerably', and 'fluctuated considerably'. Collocations are mostly natural, and the terminology related to data representation is handled well. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as the confusion noted in the data transcription ('fell to 39.5%' for the 55-64 age group instead of 45.1%), but overall spelling and word formation are accurate. The lexical range is adequate to convey precise meaning, supporting a Band 7.0 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writing exhibits a good variety of complex structures, such as participial clauses ('with the exception of those aged 15-24') and subordinate clauses ('while female participation remained...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the student shows good control of grammar and punctuation throughout. Complex sentence forms are attempted and mostly executed with accuracy, although the minor slip regarding data reporting slightly compromises absolute precision. Punctuation is accurate, and the grammatical structures used support the clear communication of comparative data. The level of grammatical control fits comfortably within the Band 7.0 descriptor.

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