Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-27

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 below illustrates the percantage of different age groups who did regular physical activity between Australian men and women in 2010.

Overall, the highest figure accounted for a typical women group while a significant men group recorded the lowest proportion. One men group scored higher than women although women group showed an average figure in every age group.

The group of men from 15 to 24 recorded 52.8% meanwhile, the women group scored 47.7%. Female age group between 25 and 34 accounted 48.9% but the male group showed 42.2%. Age group from 35 to 44 female showed 52.5% while male scored 39.5% which is the lowest among other age groups.

The women age group between 45 and 54 accounted the highest figure among other age groups which is 53.3% however, men recorded 43.1%. Male age group from 55 to 64 scored 45.1% but, female group accounted 53%. Finally, the last group which is elderly group from 65 and over, both male and female recorded an average figure which is 46.7% and 47.1%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the figures for all six age groups and identify several relevant comparisons, including the male peak of 52.8% among 15–24-year-olds and the female peak of 53.3% among 45–54-year-olds. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: “the highest figure accounted for a typical women group” does not specify the age group, and “a significant men group recorded the lowest proportion” is vague. The lowest male rate is correctly identified later as 39.5%, but the overview should state the main pattern more directly: men were more active only in the youngest group, while women led in all the others. “Average figure” for the oldest group is also imprecise, as the two rates are simply close.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs covering the age-group figures. This makes the information easy to locate, and sequencing from younger to older groups is generally logical. However, the overview does not establish a clear progression of the main comparisons, and several linking expressions are awkward or incorrectly punctuated. For example, “52.8% meanwhile, the women group…” needs clearer sentence separation, while “43.1%. however” and “45.1% but, female…” interrupt the flow. Repeated use of “while,” “but,” and “however” also makes cohesion somewhat mechanical. Use fewer, more accurately placed connectors and group the data around the main contrast between the sexes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary such as “percentage,” “recorded,” “proportion,” and “age group,” and the numerical comparisons are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are unnatural, which reduces precision. Phrases such as “a typical women group,” “a significant men group,” and “accounted the highest figure” do not express the intended comparisons naturally. “Average figure” is also not a precise description of the similar rates in the oldest group. There is a spelling error in “percantage,” and repeated use of “group” makes the description less varied. Aim for standard chart language such as “the proportion of women,” “stood at,” and “the highest rate,” while checking spelling and noun forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons joined with “while” and “although,” and the reader can usually follow the figures. However, some sentence structures and punctuation are faulty. For example, “The group of men from 15 to 24 recorded 52.8% meanwhile, the women group scored 47.7%” joins two independent clauses without suitable punctuation or a conjunction. In “The women age group between 45 and 54 accounted the highest figure,” the article and sentence pattern are not controlled, and “both male and female recorded” has an agreement problem because the subjects are groups. Review articles, subject–verb agreement, and clause boundaries, and use a wider range of accurately formed comparison sentences.

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.