Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 Austalian male and female in various age segments who did regular physical exercises in 2010.

Overall, Australian women are generally more physically active than their male counterparts across all age groups except the 15 to 24 group, which also represents the most active age group for men. For women, 45 to 54 is the most active age group among others.

During 15 to 24, men are more active than women at 52.8% and 47.7% respectively. However, men' figure drops by around 10 percentage poins to 42.3% during 25 to 34 age group and continue to decrease to 39.5% in 35 to 44 age group. Meanwhile, women experienced an upward trend through 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 groups, at 48.9% and 52.5% respectively, before reaching to the highest point at 53.3% in the 45 to 54 group.

However across the 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 age groups, women hover at around 53%, before dropping to 47.1% in the 65 and over group, the lowest across all groups for the women. Starting from the 45 to 54 age group, men bounced back from 43.1% at 45 ot 54

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast accurately: men lead in the youngest group, while women have higher activity rates in the other age groups. The overview also notes the male peak in the youngest group and the female peak at ages 45–54. Several figures and trends are reported clearly, including the women’s rise to 53.3%. However, the response does not complete the final comparison: it ends after saying men “bounced back from 43.1%” and gives no figures for the 55–64 or 65-and-over male groups. Also, the claim that 45–54 is the women’s highest group is correct, but the overview could more clearly summarise the overall pattern. Complete the male trend and compare the endpoints to make the report more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to age-group details, and the contrast signalled by “Meanwhile” helps connect the male and female trends. However, progression becomes uneven because the final paragraph stops mid-comparison, leaving the male data from age 45 onward unfinished. “However” begins two paragraphs despite not always introducing a clear contrast, and the repeated age-group-by-age-group sequencing makes the report feel somewhat mechanical. Improve cohesion by grouping the male and female patterns more deliberately, using clear comparisons between them, and ensuring each paragraph develops a complete point. A concise concluding comparison of the older groups would also give the response a more finished progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “counterparts,” “upward trend,” “hover,” and “highest point.” These choices help describe the chart and show some variety beyond basic terms. Some wording is inaccurate or awkward, however: “physical exercises” is less natural here than “physical activity,” and “reaching to the highest point” is an unsuitable collocation. There are also spelling errors in “Austalian,” “poins,” and “ot,” which reduce precision. Choose standard chart language and check spelling carefully. For example, “the figure rose to a peak” is more natural than “reaching to the highest point,” while “participation rate” can help avoid repeating “active.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “However” and a sentence using “before.” Most of the intended meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. Examples include “Australian male and female” (number agreement), “men' figure” (possessive form), and “women hover” after the past-time reference to 2010. The final sentence is also incomplete: “men bounced back from 43.1% at 45 ot 54” has no completed comparison or main continuation. Practise consistent past-tense reporting and check possessives, plurals, and sentence completion. These corrections would make your varied sentence attempts more controlled and easier to follow.

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

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