Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-01

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 physical activity of different age groups of men and women from new Zealand in 2010. Overall, women of most of the age groups participated more than men.

The women across distinct age groups have higher percentage than men except the ages of 15 to 24 where men have a slightly higher rate than women with the difference of 5%. The women aged between 45 and 54 has the largest participation with 53.3% while the men of that age are 10% behind than that of women with the total of 43.1%.

53% of women while 45.1% of men aged between 55 to 64 participated.

Men between the range of 35 to 44 has overall the least proportion of participation in physical activity that is 39.5% while the women belongs to that age category are higher with 52.5%. There is not much difference in both the genders in the ages of 64 and above with the proportion of 46.7% and 47.1% of men and women respectively. Furthermore, 42.2 % of men and 48.9% of women aged between 25 to 34 took part in the activity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main features of the chart, providing a general overview and selecting some key data points, such as the highest participation rates for women aged 45 to 54 at 53.3% and the lowest for men aged 35 to 44 at 39.5%. However, some parts of the task are only partially covered or contain inaccuracies. For instance, the student states that the chart shows data from New Zealand, whereas the source text specifies Australia. Furthermore, some comparisons lack precision or adequate development, resulting in a limited overview of the trends across all age cohorts. To reach a higher level, the response needs to present a more accurate reading of the source material and ensure all key features and cross-cohort comparisons are fully extended.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic logical arrangement in the essay, with an introduction followed by body paragraphs that group data by age groups. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, and the overall structure lacks a smooth flow between sentences and paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used rather mechanically, such as starting multiple sentences with disconnected figures or repetitive phrasing like 'The women across distinct age groups'. Paragraphing is attempted, but ideas are scattered across short, fragmented sections rather than integrated into a cohesive, well-signposted report. To improve, the student should focus on grouping related data more logically and using a wider, more natural variety of transition markers to connect ideas and guide the reader smoothly through the comparative analysis.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic measurements and comparisons, such as 'proportion', 'participation', and 'rate'. However, the range is limited and repetitive, with frequent reliance on simple descriptive terms. There are also noticeable lexical errors and inappropriate word choices, such as stating that men were '10% behind than that of women' and referring to the country as 'new Zealand' instead of Australia. Less common vocabulary is attempted with occasional inaccuracies in collocation or word form. To move to a higher band, the student should incorporate a broader range of precise vocabulary and synonyms to describe statistical trends and ensure accurate word choice without distracting errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The text displays a very limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside a few attempts at complex forms. These complex structures frequently contain errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues in 'The women aged between 45 and 54 has' and awkward prepositional phrases like 'between the range of 35 to 44 has overall the least proportion'. There are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation throughout the response, including missing capitalisation for proper nouns and awkward clause constructions. While communication is not entirely obscured, these persistent errors cause difficulty for the reader. To achieve a higher score, the writer must demonstrate better control over complex sentence patterns, maintain consistent subject-verb agreement, and reduce the frequency of grammatical mistakes.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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