Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-23
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 shows the percentage of peoples living in five Australian cities -Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart-who bought fresh coffee and instant coffee, and went to a cafe for coffee or tea in last four weeks.
Overall, the percentage fluctuates in these cities. The percentage of city residents that went to a cafe for coffee or tea in last four weeks is the most popular activity and buying fresh coffee was the least popular.
People that bought fresh coffee in last four week is about 44% in Sydney, decreased to 42% in Melbourne, further dropped to 34% in Brisbane and approximately remains same about 35% in Adelaide , then rise to 39% in Hobart.
Percentage of city residents buying instant coffee almost remains the same with a little difference. It is highest of all in Hobart about 54%, and lowest in Sydney about 46%.
people that went to cafe for coffee or tea is highest than other two trends showing that it constitutes about 62% in Sydney, 65% in Melbourne, dropped to 55% in Brisbane, much decreased to 50% in Adelaide, and then rose to 63% in Hobart.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the three categories and comparing data across the five cities. You successfully highlight the main trends, such as the popularity of cafe visits compared to buying fresh coffee. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing figures city by city rather than synthesising the data more effectively. To reach a higher band, focus on grouping the cities by their similarities or extremes (e.g., noting that Hobart consistently shows high engagement across categories) rather than just listing numbers. The overview is present but could be more analytical regarding the overall patterns observed in the data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs for each category. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. Phrases like 'further dropped to' and 'then rise to' are used frequently, which makes the flow feel a bit stilted. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect your sentences more fluidly. Additionally, ensure that referencing is clear; for instance, 'other two trends' is a bit vague. Improving the variety of your cohesive devices will help the progression of your ideas feel more natural.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information, using terms like 'fluctuates', 'residents', and 'constitutes'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and repetitive phrasing. For example, 'peoples' is grammatically incorrect (should be 'people'), and 'remains same' is missing an article ('the same'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to vary your verbs for describing trends—instead of repeating 'remains the same' or 'dropped', use words like 'stabilised', 'experienced a decline', or 'witnessed a marginal increase'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'peoples living', 'in last four weeks' (missing 'the'), and 'approximately remains same about 35%'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not impede communication. To improve, pay closer attention to articles ('the') and prepositions. Additionally, try to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or participle phrases, to demonstrate greater control over your grammar and to improve the sophistication of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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