Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-15
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 provides information about the collection of data in which people's coffee and tea purchasing and drinking habits across five Australian cities.
Overall, the percentage of people who bought fresh coffee in the last four weeks was the highest in Sydney, while instant coffee purchases in the last four weeks was the highest in Hobart. On the other hand, the highest proportion was collected of those people who went to a cafe for coffee or tea in the last four weeks.
It is quite evident from the bar chart that the maximum fresh coffee purchased in Sydney was around 44%. In contrast, there was a decline in fresh coffee in last four weeks at 42% in Melbourne. The number of residents who visited to a cafe for coffee or tea in last few weeks was around 63% in Melbourne.
Furthermore, a very small number of Australians who visited a cafe for coffee or tea in the last four weeks around 49% in Adelaide, followed by the Brisbane increased to around 56%. However, the minimum residents who purchased instant coffee in the last four weeks around 46% in Sydney.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the highest and lowest values for the categories provided. However, the analysis is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, comparative overview. While you identified the highest values, the report fails to consistently compare the five cities across all three categories (fresh coffee, instant coffee, and cafe visits). Some data points are presented in isolation, and the summary of the 'cafe' category is slightly confusing in its phrasing. To improve, ensure you group the data logically—perhaps by category or by city—to provide a more cohesive comparison rather than listing percentages city by city in a way that obscures the overall trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'On the other hand' is used to introduce a new category rather than a contrast. Additionally, some sentences lack clear logical progression, such as the final paragraph where the transition 'Furthermore' is followed by a statement about a 'small number' that actually describes a high percentage (49%). Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') is used correctly will help the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the data, using terms like 'proportion', 'purchasing habits', and 'decline'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices that hinder precision. For example, 'the collection of data in which people's coffee... habits' is grammatically clunky. Phrases like 'the maximum fresh coffee purchased' are not idiomatic; 'the highest percentage of fresh coffee purchases' would be more natural. You attempt to use varied vocabulary, but some inaccuracies in word choice prevent a higher score. Focus on learning common collocations used in data reporting, such as 'a significant proportion' or 'a marginal increase'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that, while they do not impede communication, are noticeable. For example, 'the number of residents who visited to a cafe' should be 'visited a cafe' (no 'to'). The phrase 'the minimum residents who purchased' is also incorrect; 'the lowest percentage of residents' would be better. Additionally, some sentences are missing verbs or have awkward structures, such as 'a very small number of Australians who visited a cafe... around 49% in Adelaide'. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and ensuring every sentence has a clear main verb will improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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