Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-06
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 5.5)
The chart illustrates the outcome of a survey about people's coffee and tea buying and drinking habits in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.
Overall, it can be seen that most people often went to a cafe for coffee or tea except Adelaide, while few people brought fresh coffee. Similarly, Brisbane and Adelaide recorded the same number of people who bought fresh coffee.
The majority of people in Sydney who went to a cafe for coffee and tea in last 4 weeks stood at over 60%. Similarly Melbourne and Hobart recorded about 64% and 63% respectively, which were the highest number of people. People who bought instant coffee in last 4weeks were below 55% in Hobart and above 50% in Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Adelaide recorded approximately 50% of individuals who bought coffee in last 4 weeks, while people who went to a cafe for coffee and tea in last 4weeks were just below 50%. By contrast, Brisbane and Adelaide experienced the same number of people who fresh coffee in last 4 weeks
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a general overview and attempts to highlight key features. However, the analysis is inconsistent. While you identify some data points, the reporting is often vague or inaccurate. For example, you state that Brisbane and Adelaide recorded the same number of people who bought fresh coffee, but the data comparison is not clearly supported by specific figures. Furthermore, the summary of the 'cafe' category is somewhat confusing, as you mention Adelaide as an exception but do not clearly contrast it with the other cities. To improve, ensure you select the most significant data points and compare them precisely rather than listing isolated percentages without clear context or grouping.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'Similarly' and 'in last 4 weeks'. The logical progression between sentences is sometimes hindered by unclear referencing; for instance, the transition between the general overview and the specific data in the second paragraph is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus that flows logically from the previous one.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'recorded the same number of people' and 'went to a cafe'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'people who fresh coffee', which is grammatically incomplete. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'fluctuated', or 'remained stable'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetitive phrasing and demonstrate better control over the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'people who fresh coffee' is missing a verb, and 'in last 4 weeks' is missing the definite article 'the' consistently throughout the text. Additionally, there are issues with preposition usage and sentence construction, such as 'most people often went to a cafe... except Adelaide'. While the meaning is generally understandable, these frequent minor errors prevent the writing from being considered highly accurate. Focus on proofreading for articles and verb consistency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.