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 chart introduces us to a wide spectrum of age groups of Australian men and women and the percentage of their regular physical activity in 2010.

Age groups presented on the chart are 15 to 24, 25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64 and 65 and over. We can notice the general rule, which is that women in all age groups, expet the first one, had on average more regular psysical activity in 2010. The only exception id the first column, where man in the age group from 15 to 24 have had slightly more physical activity in 2010.

The other conclusion we can make from the chart is that the regular physical activity of these two sexes diverges in percentage from one another more significantly over age groups as they enter mature age. Then, at some point in the age group 45 to 54, they begin to draw closer on each other nearing the last column in the chart, where the percentage is almost equal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main comparison correctly: women recorded higher activity in every age group except 15–24, and the sexes were almost level among those aged 65 and over. You also attempt to describe how the gap changes across the age groups. However, the response only partially reports the chart’s key information: it gives no figures, and the claim that the sexes “diverge…more significantly” as people enter mature age is unclear and does not accurately capture the pattern. The largest difference is around ages 35–44, after which the gap narrows. Include a concise overview and support it with selected figures, such as the male low of 39.5% and female peak of 53.3%.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: it introduces the chart, identifies the age groups, and then presents two broad comparisons. Linking phrases such as “The other conclusion” help signal the move to a further observation. However, the second comparison is difficult to follow because “diverge…more significantly” is not clearly tied to particular age groups, and “Then, at some point” is vague. The first body paragraph also lists all six categories without using them to organise the data. Improve progression by grouping the figures into the early-age exception, the middle-age gap, and the near-equal final group, using precise references such as “by ages 35–44” and “thereafter”.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “age groups,” “percentage,” “exception,” and “almost equal,” so the meaning is generally accessible. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “a wide spectrum” and “diverge,” but some choices are unnatural or imprecise: “introduces us to” is conversational, “draw closer on each other” is not idiomatic, and “mature age” is vague. Spelling errors such as “expet,” “psysical,” and “id” are noticeable and reduce accuracy. Aim for standard chart-reporting collocations, for example “the chart compares,” “the gap widened,” and “the figures converged.” Proofreading would also help eliminate avoidable spelling slips.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the relative clause in “where man in the age group…have had” and the subordinate clause beginning “where the percentage is almost equal.” Most of the intended meaning remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. In “women…had on average more regular physical activity,” the comparison structure is awkward; “women were more physically active” is clearer. “Man…have had” has a number mismatch and an unsuitable tense, while “they begin to draw closer…nearing” creates an unclear relationship between clauses. The sentence beginning “The other conclusion” is also long and loosely controlled. Use accurate past-tense reporting and check agreement, clause links, and punctuation when combining ideas.

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