Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-24

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 illustrate the percentage of men and women of different age group with regular physical activity in year 2010.

Overall, the chart displays different age group and percentage with minimum age 15 and maximum over 65 years, the highest percntage is at 53.2 whereas the lowest percentage is 39.5 with minimum from mens and maximum from womens in the year 2010.

The percentage for men with the age 15 to 24 at 52.8, 25 to 34 at 42.2, 35 to 44 at 39.5, 45 to 54 at 43.1, 55 to 64 at 45.1 and over 65 at 46.7, the chart show a gradual dip in the age group from 25 to 44, with a slightly increase in 45 to 65 and over.

Whereas, the women in the charts with the age group 15 to 24 at 47.7, 25 to 34 at 48.9, 35 to 44 at 52.5, 45 to 54 at 53.3, 55 to 64 at 53 and 65 and over at 47.1, the womens has the highest percentage in physical activity then men.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You include figures for both sexes across all six age groups, and most of these match the chart. You also identify the male low of 39.5% and the female peak of 53.3%, showing relevant selection of data. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: “the highest percentage is at 53.2” does not match the chart’s maximum of 53.3%, and “minimum from mens and maximum from womens” does not clearly explain the overall pattern. A key comparison is that men are more active only in the youngest group, while women lead in every other group; this is not stated precisely. To strengthen the response, give a clear overview of the contrasting trends before supporting it with selected figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, useful structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of male and female figures. This makes the information possible to follow. However, progression is limited because the overview repeats the chart’s age range without establishing the main comparison, and the final sentence adds a broad claim rather than drawing the data together. Linking words such as “Overall” and “Whereas” are used, but “Whereas” begins a fragment-like paragraph and does not clearly connect the two series. The long lists of values also make the report feel mechanical. Organise the body around the main trends and comparisons, and use clear references such as “By contrast, women…” to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “age group,” “gradual dip,” and “physical activity,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate, including “percntage,” “mens,” “womens,” and “slightly increase.” The phrase “minimum from mens and maximum from womens” is also imprecise and makes the intended comparison difficult to understand. Repetition of “percentage” and “age group” further limits flexibility. Aim to use accurate terms for trends and comparisons, such as “fell,” “recovered,” “peaked,” and “was higher than,” while checking spelling and plural forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer structures, particularly when listing figures and describing changes, but sentence control is inconsistent. The opening, “The chart illustrate,” has subject–verb disagreement, while “The percentage for men with the age 15 to 24 at 52.8” is not a complete grammatical sentence because it lacks a main verb. The overview also contains a difficult-to-follow construction: “the highest percentage is at 53.2 whereas the lowest percentage is 39.5 with minimum from mens…” These errors recur and sometimes obscure relationships between ideas. Use complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs—for example, “The male figure fell to 39.5% among those aged 35–44”—and check agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries.

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