Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-14

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 gives information about the results of analysis regarding people's coffee and tea purchase and intake habits across five Australian cities.

Overall, the percentage of people buying fresh coffee in last four weeks was the highest in Sydney, while the account of people buying fresh coffee was the lowest in Brisbane and Adelaide. The percentage of Australians who purchased instant coffee in last four weeks was maximum in Hobart, and lowest in Adelaide. The percentage of humans who went to a cafe for coffee or tea in last four weeks was the highest in Melbourne, and the lowest in Adelaide.

Those who purchased coffee in last 4 weeks were the highest at about 44% in Sydney, followed by a slight decrease to 42% in Melbourne. A further decline was seen to 34% in Brisbane and Adelaide which was an all time low percentage shown by people who bought coffee in last four weeks. 3

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the chart, but it is incomplete. You have only described the 'fresh coffee' category in detail and have not provided any data or comparisons for 'instant coffee' or 'cafe visits' beyond a brief mention in the overview. To achieve a higher band, you must report on all categories presented in the visual data. The overview is clear, but the lack of detail for two-thirds of the data set significantly limits the task achievement. Ensure that you select and report key data points for every category shown to provide a comprehensive summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'followed by,' and 'A further decline' are used to guide the reader. However, the progression of ideas is interrupted by the abrupt ending of the text, which leaves the analysis unfinished. The referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the overview and the body paragraph could be smoother. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that the conclusion or final analysis provides a sense of closure to the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'intake habits,' 'purchase,' and 'slight decrease.' However, there are some awkward word choices, such as 'account of people' (instead of 'number of people') and 'percentage of humans' (which is unnatural in this context; 'percentage of people' or 'proportion of residents' is preferred). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Focusing on more academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'in last four weeks' (missing the definite article 'the') and 'was maximum in Hobart' (should be 'was at its maximum' or 'was highest'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You should work on article usage and ensure that your sentence structures are consistently accurate. The use of passive voice is appropriate for a report, but ensure that the subject-verb agreement is maintained throughout.

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

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