Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-09
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 results of a survey about people s coffee and tea buying and drinking habits in five Australian cities
Overall, Melbourne has recorded the highest figure of more the 65% people went to cafe for coffee or tea in last 4 weeks . Sydney recorded a figure of a little more than 40% and being the highest who brought fresh coffee in last 4 weeks . Hobart reached a peak of a little less than 40% and brought instant coffee in last four weeks .
By contrast , Brisbane had more then 33% who brought fresh coffee in four weeks ,more than 50% who brought instant coffee in last four weeks and finally reached 55% who went to a cafe for coffee or tea in last four weeks. Adelaide was same as Brisbane only a little change in increase of people who bought instant coffee and a little decline in people who brought fresh coffee in last four weeks . Sydney and Melbourne were quite similar while Hobart a little more than Melbourne for people who went to a cafe for coffee or tea in last four weeks .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the high cafe attendance in Melbourne and the trends for fresh versus instant coffee. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention some figures, the comparison between cities is somewhat disjointed. The data interpretation is occasionally inaccurate; for instance, stating that Sydney and Melbourne were 'quite similar' in cafe attendance is not supported by the data provided. To improve, ensure you group data logically (e.g., by category rather than city) and provide a more cohesive summary of the trends rather than listing individual city statistics in isolation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'in last four weeks'. Some transitions, like 'By contrast' and 'Adelaide was same as Brisbane', are abrupt and do not effectively link the comparison to the previous point. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks a logical flow, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the five cities effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely heavily on basic verbs like 'recorded', 'reached', and 'brought' (which is likely a misuse of 'bought'). There are also spelling errors, such as 'more the' instead of 'more than' and 'brought' instead of 'bought'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more varied reporting verbs and precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'fluctuated', or 'surpassed'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include incorrect verb tense usage (e.g., 'people went to cafe' instead of 'people who went to cafes'), missing articles, and confusion between 'brought' and 'bought'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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