Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-13
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 bar chart compares the result of a survey in Sydney, Hobart and three more cities of Australia about people drinking habits in coffee and tea.
Overall, The graph illustrates the three types of people in last four weeks, Some who buy fresh coffee, Other who bought instant coffee and a few went to a cafe for coffee or tea. Melbourne and Hobart accounted the highest number of people with drinking habits, whereas , Hobart and Brisbane both accounted the same amount of people who bought instant coffee . In contrast, Brisbane and Adelaide showed the lowest amount of people who use to buy fresh coffee.
For drinking habits,Melbourne recorded the highest percentage at 64, followed by Hobart at 63% approximately. Sydney also had a good percentage at 61. In contrast,Brisbane and Adelaide both showed the small percentage at 55% and 49% respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified some main features, the analysis is incomplete. You mention three categories of people (fresh coffee, instant coffee, and cafe visits) in the introduction, but the body paragraphs do not adequately report on all these categories, focusing primarily on general drinking habits. The data selection is somewhat selective, and the lack of sufficient detail means the task is only partially addressed. To improve, ensure you provide a comprehensive overview of all data points presented in the chart and ensure your response meets the minimum length requirement to allow for full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is hindered by some awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In contrast' and 'whereas', but they are sometimes applied mechanically or with punctuation errors (e.g., 'whereas , Hobart'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when comparing cities across different categories. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your punctuation around these connectors is accurate. Improving the flow between sentences will help the reader follow your comparisons more easily.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'drinking habits' and 'amount of people' repeatedly. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'accounted the highest number' (should be 'accounted for') and 'use to buy' (should be 'used to buy'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'predominant', or 'marginal'. Avoid repeating the same phrases and focus on using more precise collocations to describe the trends in the chart.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow, such as missing articles ('the result of a survey'), incorrect verb forms ('accounted the highest'), and punctuation issues (unnecessary spaces before commas). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from being considered error-free. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Proofreading for basic punctuation and article usage would significantly enhance the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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