Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-29

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 compares the proportions of Australian men and women of different age groups doing regular physical activity in 2010. Overall, the age group 15 to 24 accounted for the largest share with 52.8% of male and 47.7% female doing the physical activity regularly followed by age group 55 to 64 and 35 to 44. While, lowest percentage of male and female doing physical activity were from the age group 25 to 34. The highest percentage of male doing physical activity regularly was from the age group 15 to 24 with 52.8% of the total male popluation followed by 46.7% from the age group 65 and over and 45.1% from the age group 55 to 64. Subsequently, the highest percentage of female doing physical activity was from the asge group 45 to 64 constituting 53.3% of the whole female population followed by 53% from the age group 55 to 64 and 52.8% from the age group 15 to 24.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart’s subject and include several relevant figures, but the main features are not reported accurately or clearly enough. The overview says that 25–34-year-olds had the lowest activity rates for both sexes; in fact, men’s lowest rate was among 35–44-year-olds (39.5%), while women’s lowest was among those aged 15–24 (47.7%). You also describe 15–24 as the largest group overall, although women’s peak was 45–54 (53.3%). The final comparison gives 52.8% for women aged 15–24, rather than the chart’s 47.7%. To strengthen the response, give a precise overview of the contrasting male and female trends, then select accurate comparisons across the age groups.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction and overview are followed by details about men and then women. However, the progression is weakened by repeated claims about the highest and lowest percentages, and some links between ideas are unclear. For example, “followed by age group 55 to 64 and 35 to 44” does not explain what is being ranked, while “While, lowest percentage…” is an incomplete and awkward transition. The final sentence also repeats a ranking without clearly connecting it to the earlier overview. Use separate, focused paragraphs for the overview and comparisons, and organise the details by sex or by age pattern. Clearer referencing and fewer mechanical transitions would make the information easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of chart-related vocabulary, including “proportions,” “accounted for,” “constituting,” and “followed by,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language, although some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “the largest share” suggests a share of a whole rather than the highest rate, and “the whole female population” is not what the chart measures. Repetition of “percentage” and “doing physical activity” limits flexibility. Spelling slips such as “popluation” and “asge” are noticeable but do not prevent understanding. Prefer precise terms such as “rate” or “proportion,” and vary the phrasing while keeping the meaning tied to the chart.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple statements and more complex constructions, including “While…” and participle phrases such as “constituting 53.3%…”. Meaning is usually recoverable, but some errors in sentence structure and grammatical control remain. “While, lowest percentage…” is not a complete clause, and “52.8% of male and 47.7% female doing…” lacks the articles and verb structure needed for a complete comparison. The long opening overview also joins several ideas in a way that makes the relationships difficult to follow. Use complete clauses—for example, “The figures were 52.8% for men and 47.7% for women”—and check articles, sentence boundaries, and the structure of subordinate clauses.

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