Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-22

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)

This bar chart illustrates the percentage of Australian men and women in different age groups who did regular physical activity in 2010.

Overall, the age group of men from 15 to 24 had highest proportion of activity whereas women age group between 45 to 54 recorded largest share. In contrast the physical activities in in men with age group of 35 to 44 age group and women over 65 was least popular.

The age group of 15 to 24 accounted for 52.8% in men and making it most popular age group of men in physical activities. Meanwhile between 25 to 44 years men share plummeted at 39.5% making it most unpopular age group with physical activities. The men with age group 45 to 65 and over grew modestly from 43.1% to 46.1%.

Women with age group of 15 to 24 accounted for 47.7%, then woman proportion increased rapidly in between 25 to 44 is at 52.5%. From 44 to 54 it gradually rise to 53.3% which was noted the age group of women with significant percentage of physical activity, However women 55 and over fell to 47.1%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast: men are most active in the youngest group, while women lead across most other ages. The overview also notes the low points for men aged 35–44 and women aged 65 and over. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: women peak at 45–54 (53.3%), not simply across 45–54 as the wording suggests, and the male figure for 65 and over is 46.7%, not 46.1%. The description of women’s rise from 25–44 also skips the 25–34 value and blurs the age bands. To make the summary more complete and precise, report the key comparisons accurately and distinguish each age group clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs describing men and women. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is sometimes difficult to track because age ranges are combined or expressed imprecisely, as in “between 25 to 44” and “from 44 to 54.” Some linking is also mechanical, and the final sentence’s “However” is not punctuated as a clear transition. Use consistent age-band labels and organise each paragraph in chronological order, linking the figures with simple, accurate transitions. This would make the relationships between the data easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “proportion,” “accounted for,” “plummeted,” and “modestly.” These choices show an attempt to describe trends rather than merely list figures. Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, however: “most unpopular age group with physical activities” does not clearly mean the group with the lowest participation, and “women age group” is awkward. “Plummeted” also overstates the change between the male age groups, which is better described as a decline. Aim for precise chart language and natural collocations, especially when describing highs, lows and changes. This will improve clarity without requiring more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, and the overall meaning is generally understandable. However, some sentence structures are faulty or incomplete. For example, “The age group of 15 to 24 accounted for 52.8% in men and making it…” joins incompatible verb forms; “From 44 to 54 it gradually rise” has an incorrect verb form and an unclear subject. There are also article and agreement problems in “women age group … recorded largest share,” as well as punctuation issues around “However.” Practise building complete clauses with a clear subject and consistent verb form, then check articles and sentence boundaries. More accurate control of these patterns would make your comparisons easier to understand.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.