Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-20

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 a comparison about individuals caffeine buying and consumption habits across five different Australian cities.

Overall, people's habit of going to a cafe for either tea or coffee was the highest across while the number of people buying fresh coffee in the last month remained the least.

Melbourne had the highest number of people going to a cafe for drinks at 63%, followed by Hobart at 62% and Sydney at 61%. Brisbane was at 55% while Adelaide was the lowest with 49%.

Furthermore, Adelaide citizens preferred to buy instant coffee(50%) as opposed to fresh coffee(34%) and going to cafes. While Sydney had 44% and 46% consumers for fresh and instant coffee, Melbourne had 42% and 53%, Brisbane 34% and 53%, followed by Hobart at 37% and 54% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main features and provided some comparisons, the analysis is somewhat superficial due to the brevity. You have successfully highlighted the highest and lowest figures, but the lack of depth in comparing the data across all five cities prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview and include more detailed comparisons of the trends observed in the data to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a fuller understanding of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'While', which assist in linking ideas. However, the progression of ideas is slightly mechanical, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure feels a bit abrupt due to the limited length. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect sentences and paragraphs more fluidly, ensuring that the relationship between the different data points is clearly articulated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication of the data. You use terms like 'consumption habits', 'fresh coffee', and 'instant coffee' appropriately. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic descriptive language. There are no significant errors in word choice, but the vocabulary lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms and precise collocations related to data reporting, such as 'a significant proportion', 'a marginal difference', or 'the most prevalent trend'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, your use of 'followed by' and 'as opposed to' is handled well. However, the range of structures is somewhat restricted, and there is limited evidence of more complex grammatical forms. To improve, aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or passive voice constructions, to enhance the sophistication of your writing while maintaining the current level of accuracy.

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

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