Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-26

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 below demonstrates the results of a survey about people's coffee and tea intake and drinking habits in five Australian cities.

Overall, the graph illustrates that how the percentages of cities in Australia differ in buying and drinking habits.

Melbourne, a city of Australia indicates the highest percentage that is 64% of the people who visited cafe for coffee and tea in last four weeks, whereas 47% bought instant coffee and 43% bought fresh coffee in last four weeks. On the other hand, 63% individuals went to cafe in Hobart, 61% in Sydney, 56% in Brisbane and 49% in Adelaide. Furthermore, the percentages of citizens who utilized instant coffee in past few weeks were 54 in Hobart, 53 in Brisbane, 50 in Adelaide, 47 in Melbourne and 45 in Sydney.

A few number of residents purchased fresh coffee within past four weeks. Hobart is on the top with 54%, Brisbane at the second with 53%, Adelaide at third with 50%, Melbourne at fourth with approximately 48% and Sydney at last with 46% of the local community.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the data and provided comparisons between the five cities. You covered all three categories: cafe visits, instant coffee, and fresh coffee. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you included an 'Overall' sentence, it is vague and does not highlight the most significant trends, such as Melbourne's dominance in cafe visits or the general preference for instant coffee over fresh coffee across most cities. To improve, ensure your overview synthesizes the data rather than just stating that percentages differ. Additionally, ensure your data points are accurate; for instance, your description of fresh coffee percentages contradicts the provided chart data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You used some cohesive devices like 'whereas', 'on the other hand', and 'furthermore' to connect ideas. However, the progression of information is sometimes mechanical. The transition between the second and third paragraphs is a bit abrupt, and the referencing could be smoother. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. The current structure is functional but could benefit from more sophisticated signposting to guide the reader through the comparisons more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey the information, using terms like 'percentages', 'residents', and 'local community'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'A few number of residents' is grammatically incorrect; 'A small number of residents' or 'A minority of residents' would be more appropriate. Additionally, you repeat 'in last four weeks' frequently, which makes the writing feel repetitive. To improve, try to use synonyms or vary your sentence structure to avoid repeating the same time-frame phrases. Incorporating more precise reporting verbs and adverbs would also enhance the quality of your lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, 'the graph illustrates that how the percentages...' is redundant; it should be 'illustrates how the percentages...'. You also have issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'at the second' instead of 'in second place'. There are also minor punctuation and phrasing errors throughout. To reach a higher band, focus on reducing these small errors and aim for more complex, error-free sentences. Your current control is sufficient for communication but lacks the precision required for higher bands.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.