Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-17

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 information about the average hours spent on the Internet by European individuals of different age groups. The figures are given as hours.

Overall, male and female of age group 16-20 spend the most time on Internet while people of age 51+ spend less time .

In detail, 11-15 year male spend 8 hours whereas female spend 6 hours a difference of 2 hours between male and female using internet. Age group of 26-30 years male and female both spend equal time on screen which was 4 hours while 16-20 year male spend 19 hours on screen while it was 18 hours for female for same age group.

3 hours was spend on Internet by male of age group 31-50 while female spend only 4 hours by same age group. 51 year or more age group male spend only 2 hours on internet whereas female spend 3 hours.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the table well, successfully selecting key trends such as the peak usage in the 16-20 age group and the lowest usage in the 51+ category. The overview is clearly stated, pointing out the highest and lowest spending age groups. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the data: for instance, the student states that for the 31-50 age group, male spend 3 hours while female spend 'only 4 hours by same age group', which misinterprets the comparative scale, and there are occasional minor omissions in reporting every single breakdown. Nevertheless, all parts of the prompt are addressed, fulfilling the requirements for Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement with a clear separation into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and body details. However, paragraphing is somewhat rudimentary, and the sequencing within the body paragraphs feels a bit disjointed due to abrupt transitions between age groups (jumping from 11-15 to 26-30, then 16-20). Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical or repetitive manner (e.g., 'In detail', 'whereas', 'while'). Referencing is occasionally slightly unclear. This performance aligns closely with the Band 6 descriptor for logical progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying numerical data, time units, and demographic groups ('European individuals', 'age groups', 'average hours'). There are attempts to use vocabulary related to the prompt, but the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, with words like 'spend', 'screen', and 'hours' recurring frequently. Word choice errors occur, such as awkward phrasing in 'female spend only 4 hours by same age group' instead of 'for the same age group'. Minor errors do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though complex structures are often basic or prone to error. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'male and female of age group 16-20' (missing articles/pluralisation), '3 hours was spend' (passive voice error with 'spent'), and '51 year or more age group male spend'. Punctuation and article omissions are noticeable throughout. However, these errors rarely impede overall communication, reflecting a clear Band 5.5 to 6.0 profile; a score of 6.0 is awarded as the meaning remains generally clear.

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

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