Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-04

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 compares the proportion of Australian men and women across six different age categories who participated in regular physical activity in 2010.

Overall, it is clear that women were generally more active than men in most age groups, except in the the youngest category. Additionally, the highest proportion of physical activity for women occurred in middle age, while for men, the highest participation was among the youngest group.

In 15 to 24 age limit, men were more engaged physically at a percentage of 52.8% while women followed by 47.7%. Furthermore, in the remaining years women were more active as in 25 to 34 year category, women were at 48.9% while men at a percentage of just 42.2%. Among ages between 35 to 44, the most highest percentage was of women as 52.5% and as of men 39.5%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by providing an overview and selecting some main features from the bar chart, such as the general trend that women were more active across most age categories. However, the report stops abruptly mid-sentence in the third paragraph, leaving important data unmentioned and leading to an under-developed response. Additionally, the length requirement is not met, as the text contains 139 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum. To reach a higher band, the student must complete the description of all remaining data groups and ensure the minimum word count is satisfied.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and the beginning of a body paragraph. There is a general attempt at logical sequencing, and cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Additionally', and 'Furthermore' are used to connect ideas. However, because the text cuts off prematurely, the progression of information feels incomplete. Cohesive devices are sometimes used mechanically, such as repetitive phrasing when introducing data points. To improve Coherence and Cohesion, the writer needs to ensure paragraphs are fully developed and that ideas flow smoothly to a logical conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, with appropriate topic-specific terms like 'proportion', 'category', and 'physical activity'. There are some attempts at less common phrasing, but inaccuracies are present, such as 'the most highest percentage', which shows poor superlative construction and word choice. There are also awkward collocations when reporting figures. To achieve a higher score, the student should expand their range of vocabulary, use less common lexical items with greater precision, and avoid awkward phrasings or redundant superlatives.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The bar chart compares the proportion...' and concessive clauses like 'except in the the youngest category'. There are noticeable errors in grammar and punctuation, including an article repetition ('in the the youngest category'), a preposition error ('In 15 to 24 age limit'), and incomplete structural patterns when contrasting figures ('while men at a percentage of just 42.2%'). These errors occasionally create strain for the reader. To improve, the writer should practice accurate prepositional usage and ensure all clauses contain complete verb phrases.

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

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