Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below shows the results of a survey about people’s coffee and tea buying and drinking habits in five Australian cities.

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

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The bar chart compares the percentage of residents in five Australian cities who bought fresh coffee, bought instant coffee, or went to a café for coffee or tea in the last 4 weeks.

Overall, going to a café was the most popular activity in 4 out of 5 cities, while buying fresh coffee was the least common. Sydney and Adelaide showed a more balanced pattern than the other three cities.

Looking at café visits first, Melbourne and Hobart had the highest figures at around 64% each. Sydney followed with 62%, while Brisbane and Adelaide were lower at 56% and 50% respectively.

For instant coffee, Hobart led with 55%, followed by Brisbane at 53% and Adelaide at 50%. Melbourne and Sydney had lower rates at 48% and 45%.

In contrast, fresh coffee purchases were much less common. Sydney had the highest proportion at 44%, followed by Melbourne at 42% and Hobart at 39%. Brisbane and Adelaide were the lowest, both at around 35%. Notably, in Adelaide the percentage buying instant coffee matched those going to cafés at 50%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported key features from the chart. The comparisons made between the five cities are relevant and accurate, such as noting that Melbourne and Hobart had the highest café attendance. The data is presented logically, and you have successfully highlighted the contrast between the popularity of café visits versus fresh coffee purchases. The inclusion of specific data points supports your summary well, meeting the requirements for a Band 8 level of task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear focus: the introduction, the overview, and then specific details for each category. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'notably', and 'followed by' is effective and natural, helping the reader follow the comparisons easily. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different categories of data. The flow between sentences is smooth, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking, which demonstrates a high level of control over the structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information precisely. Terms like 'balanced pattern', 'proportion', and 'figures' are used accurately in context. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic report, and there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or varied ways to describe trends (e.g., 'predominated', 'marginal difference') could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical control is strong and supports clear communication throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('Looking at café visits first') and comparative clauses ('while buying fresh coffee was the least common'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense is consistent. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication. To reach a higher band, you could experiment with more diverse sentence beginnings or slightly more complex subordinating structures, but the current level of accuracy and range is very commendable for this task.

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

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