Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-29
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 graph illustrates the buying and consuming habits of people for coffee and tea in five different cities of Australia.
Overall, Melbourne and Hobart citizens bought coffee or tea in a large amount as compared to other cities . However, Brisbane's and Adelaid's residents had the lowest percentage in getting tea or coffee.
As 65 percent of people in Melbourne drank tea or coffee . After that , the highest number of people who bought these drinks is Hobart which was 62 percent quite close to the Melbourne. Furthermore, Sydney residents also not behind these cities in buying and drinking coffee or tea.
Mostly people liked to have an instant coffee in all five cities as compared to the fresh coffee. Hobart has the highest percent of people who liked an instant coffee; nearly 55 percent and only 38 percent bought fresh coffee . Almost 52 percent Brisbane's citizens liked a quick coffee. In Sydney, 45 percent citizens bought an instant one and 40 percent loved to have a fresh one. One city whose residents almost have the same choice in buying fresh and instant coffee is the Adelaide with the difference of only 1 percent in favor of instant coffee.
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, identifying the cities with the highest and lowest consumption and comparing coffee types. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the report mentions that Sydney residents are 'not behind' other cities, but it fails to provide the specific data point (61%) to support this. Additionally, the description of the coffee types is slightly disorganized; while it identifies that instant coffee is more popular, the data points provided for Brisbane and Adelaide are not fully integrated into a clear comparative structure. To reach a higher band, ensure all key data points are accurately cited and grouped logically to highlight trends rather than listing figures city by city.
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 awkward, such as 'After that' to introduce a new point or 'One city whose residents almost have the same choice'. The transition between the general overview and the specific details is functional but lacks sophistication. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly. The paragraphing is appropriate for a report of this length.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the data clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'consuming habits' and 'percentage', but the range remains somewhat limited. There are also minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'in a large amount' (should be 'in large amounts' or 'at high rates') and 'getting tea or coffee' (which is informal). The repetition of 'bought' and 'liked' suggests a need for more varied synonyms to describe trends and preferences in a more academic tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as 'Sydney residents also not behind' (missing verb), 'Adelaid's' (spelling error), and 'Mostly people liked' (incorrect adverb placement). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before periods and commas. While the meaning is generally clear and communication is not impeded, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct sentence construction would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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