Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-07

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The table gives information about the average hours spent on the Internet by European people of different age groups.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The table illustrates the data about the standard hours spend on the internet by European citizens of various age groups.

Overall, young male adults recorded the highest spending hours on the online, whereas elderly female had the lowest number. spending time on the internet declined after the adult age in both male and female.

To begin with, young male adults had the highest average hours of spending on the virtual media at 19 hours, as compared with women, which was 18 hours. Moreover, adolescents whose age is around 11 to 15, they were spend 8 hours, while female spend 6 hours. In addition, 21 to 25 years male spent 7 hours on internet, which was higher than that of female who were the same age with 5 hours.

Furthermore, both male and female whose age was 26 to 30 spend identical amount of time on internet, respectively. The internet usage among age group of 31 to 50 were 3 and 4 hours, respectivelty.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the data, such as the highest and lowest usage groups. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the mention of '31 to 50' years is vague as it does not specify the gender for the figures provided, and the data for the '26 to 30' group is mentioned but the actual figures are omitted, which is a significant omission. While the overview is present, the reporting of data lacks precision and fails to fully compare all relevant age groups effectively. To improve, ensure all data points mentioned are accurate and clearly linked to the corresponding categories.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when comparing groups, which makes the progression of information feel mechanical. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that comparisons are explicitly stated would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. Phrases like 'spending hours on the online' and 'virtual media' are unnatural in this context. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'standard hours' instead of 'average hours'. While the student attempts to use a range of vocabulary, the errors in collocation and word form are noticeable. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise terminology related to data reporting and avoid informal or inaccurate phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('they were spend', 'female spend'), incorrect tense usage, and missing articles. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often clumsy, which occasionally impedes the clarity of the information. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that verb tenses are consistent when describing data. Reducing these frequent errors will significantly improve the readability and accuracy of your writing.

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

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