Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-25

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 of the average hours of internet useage of European people of various age categories.

Overall, at a glance, male age group of 16 - 20 is highly using the internet follwed by the same age female groups. Male who are 51 plus are the least online users. People who are age above 26 spend less hours in internet. Overall the male dominates and spent more time on internet.

To start, 16 - 20 year olds spent 37 total hours on internet, which is the highest among all categories. While the 11-15 age category children spent 14 hours, which is nearly the half of the 16 - 20 age group. In contrast, older citizens who are above 51 spent around 5 hours in internet becomes the least group people.

Individuals age between 21 ans 25 spent 12 hours which is in the third place. Spending hours on internet reduces from the age 26. People 26-30 age group spend 8 hours and 31-50 age individuals spent 7 hours. Most hours spent on internet users are between 11 and 25. Least category people are between 26 and over.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main peak correctly: the 16–20 group has the highest figures, and you note that internet use is lower among older groups. However, the overview is not consistently accurate: males do not dominate every age group, since females record higher figures at 31–50 and 51+, while 26–30 is equal. The statement that people over 26 spend fewer hours is broadly true, but the claim that the 11–15 group’s 14 hours is “nearly the half” of the 16–20 total of 37 is misleading. Several comparisons are also unclear, and the response gives combined totals rather than clearly reporting the male and female figures. Select the key patterns and compare the two sexes accurately to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs of detail. It also groups the age categories in a generally sensible order, moving from the highest-use group to older groups. However, progression is weakened by repeated or unclear statements, such as “Overall” appearing twice in the overview and “Least category people are between 26 and over” at the end. Some linking is mechanical, particularly “To start” and “In contrast,” and the relationship between the figures and the comparisons is not always easy to follow. Organise the body around clear comparisons—for example, the peak and younger groups, followed by the decline among older groups—and use references that make clear whether you mean males, females or combined totals.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “age category,” “online users,” “highest” and “least,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “internet useage,” “highly using the internet,” “spend less hours in internet” and “least group people.” Spelling errors such as “follwed” and “ans” also reduce accuracy. These problems sometimes make the intended comparison less clear, even though the reader can usually infer your meaning. Aim for precise, natural phrases such as “spent the most time online,” “hours spent on the internet” and “the lowest figure,” and check spelling and word forms during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including comparisons introduced by “While” and “which.” However, control is uneven, especially in longer constructions. For example, “In contrast, older citizens who are above 51 spent around 5 hours in internet becomes the least group people” combines clauses without a clear grammatical connection. There are also errors in sentence structure and agreement, as in “male age group of 16 - 20 is highly using,” and in the construction “People who are age above 26 spend less hours.” Articles, prepositions and verb forms are not consistently controlled. Build comparisons as complete sentences, and check that each clause has a clear subject and verb; this will make your range easier to understand.

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

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