Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-22

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 provides information about European people who spent average hours with different age groups.

Overall, there are more males who spent most of the time on the different age group, while on the other hand less female in numbers.

In terms of highest numbers are in teen age group from 16 to 20, where the males are 19 and females are 18. The most least age group is 51+, in this group there are 2 males and 3 females.

In early 20s, age group 21 to 25 is the average numbers of males and females (7 and 5 respectively), as compare to 51+ and teen's group. Later comes early teens age interval (11 to 15) and the gender distribution numbers are (8 and 6) males & females.

The age group of (26 to 30) of people, where the genders are exactly same in numbers, and the distribution is 4 for both male and female. The next age group comes (31 to 50), this is approximately same from previously (3 and 4) male and female respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main peak accurately: the 16–20 group records 19 hours for males and 18 for females, and you also report the lowest figures for people aged 51+. The other age-group figures are generally represented correctly. However, the overview is unclear and overgeneralises when it says males spent “most of the time” and females were “less in numbers”: males are higher in most groups, but females exceed males in the 31–50 and 51+ groups, while 26–30 is equal. The response also describes the figures one group at a time rather than drawing out the broad pattern of a peak among 16–20-year-olds followed by a decline with age. A more precise overview and clearer comparisons would make the key features more fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an opening, an overview, and paragraphs reporting figures. The age groups are mostly presented in a sensible sequence, and phrases such as “In terms of” and “The next age group” attempt to guide the reader. However, progression is limited because most sentences list one age group without linking it to a clear comparison or overall trend. Some transitions are awkward or misleading: “Later comes early teens” moves backwards in age, and “as compare to 51+ and teen’s group” does not clearly explain the comparison. The overview’s “while on the other hand” also creates a contrast that is not consistently accurate. Grouping the age bands into higher, middle, and lower figures, then using clear comparison links, would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the basic information, including “age group,” “distribution,” “highest,” and “respectively.” However, the range is limited, and several word choices or collocations make the report unnatural or imprecise. For example, “spent average hours with different age groups” does not clearly express the table’s measure, while “most least age group” is not a natural way to describe the lowest figures. “Average numbers” is also unsuitable when referring to hours, and “teen’s group” is an awkward label. Aim for precise reporting language such as “average time spent online,” “the lowest figures,” and “the 21–25 age group.” This would make the comparisons clearer and more appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentence forms, including clauses beginning with “where” and comparisons using “as,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in basic sentence construction and agreement: “there are more males who spent most of the time” shifts awkwardly between present and past, while “less female in numbers” lacks a clear grammatical structure. The sentence beginning “In terms of highest numbers are…” is incomplete, and “the age group … where the genders are exactly same” is also an awkwardly formed clause. Articles and prepositions are sometimes missing or incorrectly used, as in “in teen age group.” Use a wider set of controlled sentence patterns, and check that each sentence has a clear subject and verb before adding comparisons.

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

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