Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-11
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 below illustrates the results of a survey done in five Australian cities about the habits of people's drinking and buying coffee and tea.
In regard to coffee and tea buying and drinking habits in five cities in Australia. The percentage of city residents who went to a café for coffee or tea in last 4 weeks was highest in Melbourne and Hobart.
Furthermore, the percentage of city residents in Melbourne to go to a café for coffee or tea in the last 4 weeks was 64% which was the highest.In comparision to Horbart and Sydney. In Hobart 63% of the residents preferred to go to a café for coffee or tea. Moreover, in Sydney 61% of the residents went to a café for coffee or tea in last 4 weeks.
In terms of fresh coffee bought in last 4 weeks the highest percentage has been in Sydney which is at 54%. Brisbane has the lowest percentage of fresh coffee bought being at only 33% in last 4 weeks. In contrast to Hobart the percentage of residents who prefer to buy instant coffee is at 54%. Residents in Sydney have the lowest percentage of instant coffee bought in last 4 weeks being at 45%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the data, such as the highest and lowest percentages across the cities. However, the response lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph that synthesizes the trends. While you mention specific figures, you could improve by grouping the data more effectively—for instance, comparing the café habits against the buying habits more holistically. The report covers all parts of the task, but the lack of a distinct summary statement prevents it from reaching a higher band. Ensure you provide a clear 'big picture' statement after your introduction to better meet the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, you frequently start sentences with 'In terms of' or 'In contrast to'. Additionally, there are some issues with sentence structure, such as the sentence fragment 'In comparision to Horbart and Sydney', which disrupts the flow. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your sentences are complete thoughts rather than fragmented phrases. This will help create a more natural and logical progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information about percentages and habits. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, with phrases like 'percentage of city residents' appearing multiple times. There are also minor spelling errors, such as 'comparision' and 'Horbart'. To achieve a higher band, aim to use more varied synonyms for 'percentage' (e.g., 'proportion', 'figure') and 'bought' (e.g., 'purchased', 'acquired'). Expanding your vocabulary will make your writing more precise and engaging for the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally affect readability. For instance, 'In regard to coffee and tea buying and drinking habits in five cities in Australia' is a sentence fragment. There are also issues with preposition usage and article omission, such as 'in last 4 weeks' instead of 'in the last 4 weeks'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb.
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.