Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-07

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.

Average hours spent on the Internet by European people of different age groups

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The given table provides data on average hours spent by Europian citizens of different aged groups on the internet.

Overall, it is evident that young people of aged between 16-20 years like to spent most of their time surfing the internet than any other aged groups, whereas old people of aged 51 and over has engaged less. Both male and female has almost identical hours spent.

Aged 16-20 males and females spent 19 hours and 18 hours respectively, whereas youth of aged 21-25 spent considerably less time, represented 7 hours and 5 hours for male and female.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main peak accurately: the 16–20 group records the highest figures for both sexes, at 19 hours for males and 18 for females. You also note that people aged 51 and over spend the least time online, and include a comparison for ages 21–25. However, the report is only partial: it omits the figures for ages 11–15, 26–30 and 31–50, so the overall pattern across the table is not fully summarised. The claim that male and female hours are “almost identical” is too broad without acknowledging the equal figures at 26–30 and the small differences elsewhere. The response is also 53 words below the required minimum. Include the remaining age groups and a fuller overview of the pattern.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview beginning “Overall,” and a paragraph with specific figures. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and “whereas” helps signal contrast. However, the report ends after discussing only two age groups, so the progression through the table is incomplete and the final paragraph does not provide a rounded account. The overview also combines several claims without developing them with the full range of data. To improve, organise the details systematically—for example, describe the peak and the subsequent decline, then cover the remaining age groups—and use clear links between those comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary such as “average hours,” “age groups,” “surfing the internet” and “represented,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There is some attempt to vary expression, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a formal data report: “Europian” is misspelled, “aged groups” is not idiomatic, and “like to spent” does not express the table’s neutral reporting purpose. “Engaged less” is also an awkward way to describe lower usage. Aim for precise, neutral reporting language and check spelling and collocations. For example, use “European,” “age groups,” “recorded” or “spent,” and “used the internet for fewer hours.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “whereas” and a relative clause in “people of aged 51 and over.” The main figures remain understandable, but errors in verb forms and agreement recur. Examples include “like to spent” instead of “like to spend,” “Both male and female has” instead of “Both males and females have,” and “old people … has engaged less.” The phrase “youth of aged 21–25 spent … represented” also lacks a clear grammatical link between the comparison and the figures. Use straightforward, accurate reporting structures such as “Males aged 16–20 spent 19 hours, compared with 18 hours for females,” and check subject–verb agreement and verb forms.

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