Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The bar chart compares the proportions of Australian males and females across six different age cohorts who participated in regular physical exercise in the year 2010.

Overall, women generally exhibited higher levels of physical activity than men in most age groups, with the sole exception of the youngest demographic. Additionally, while the participation rate for men experienced a U-shaped trend as they aged, the trend for women was more stable, peaking in middle age before declining slightly.

Looking at the younger demographics, males aged 15 to 24 were the most active group, with 52.8% engaging in regular exercise, compared to 47.7% of their female counterparts. However, this was the only age bracket where men outnumbered women. In the 25 to 34 range, male participation dropped significantly to 42.2%, while female participation rose to 48.9%. This disparity widened further in the 35 to 44 age category, where male activity hit its lowest point at 39.5%, while female participation climbed to 52.5%.

In the older age brackets, female exercise rates peaked between 45 and 54 years old at 53.3%, and remained nearly identical at 53% for those aged 55 to 64. In contrast, the figure for men steadily recovered, rising from 43.1% in the 45–54 group to 45.1% among 55-to-64-year-olds. By the final category of 65 and over, the gap between the genders almost entirely closed, with 46.7% of men and 47.1% of women participating in regular physical activity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by providing a comprehensive summary of the bar chart, detailing the percentage of Australian men and women in various age groups who engaged in regular physical activity in 2010. A clear overview is presented in the second paragraph, capturing the main trends effectively (such as women generally exhibiting higher activity levels and the U-shaped trend for men). Key features and comparisons are well selected and accurately reported, as seen in phrases like 'males aged 15 to 24 were the most active group, with 52.8%' and 'the gap between the genders almost entirely closed'. The data is cited accurately without any noticeable misinterpretations or omissions, demonstrating a high level of task response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression from an introduction and overview to specific body paragraphs detailing younger and older demographics. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively to link ideas and compare data, such as 'Additionally', 'while', 'However', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the visual data. Referencing is clear throughout, ensuring the reader can easily follow the relationships between male and female participation rates across different age cohorts. Cohesion never feels mechanical or intrusive.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Vocabulary is used with precision and naturalness, including effective phrasing such as 'proportions of Australian males and females across six different age cohorts', 'participation rate', 'sole exception', and 'disparity widened further'. Less common lexical items are handled competently, and word choices reflect appropriate academic style and collocation. There are no notable spelling or word-choice errors, contributing to a smooth reading experience.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring sophisticated syntactic constructions such as subordinate clauses ('while the participation rate for men experienced a U-shaped trend as they aged') and participial phrases ('comparing to...', 'rising from... to...'). Control over punctuation and sentence boundaries is strong, and any minor slips are extremely rare and do not impede communication in any way.

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