Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-31
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 graph illustrates the ratio of percentage of people having drinking habits and buying coffee and tea in Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.
Overall, the eye catching feature is that highest people went to a cafe for coffee or tea in Melbourne and Hobart are same in last 4 weeks.
In detail, fresh coffee bought by people was around 40% in Sydney and Melbourne . In contrast , instant coffee bought by people was 45% in Sydney which had increased around 50% in Melbourne. Whereas, people went to a cafe for coffee or tea was around 60% in Sydney and was maximum 65% approximately in Melbourne.
Subsequently, survey showed that people went to a cafe for coffee or tea was greatest in Hobart which was around 65%, 55% and 50% approximately in Brisbane and Adelaide respectively. In addition, people who bought instant coffee was at peak around 55% in Hobart , 50% Adelaide and around 50% in Brisbane. Similarly, survey of fresh coffee bought showed utmost in Hobart which was 65%, 55% in Brisbane and around 50% in Adelaide.
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 all parts of the task by identifying key trends across the five cities. However, the reporting of data is occasionally confusing. For instance, the statement that 'highest people went to a cafe... in Melbourne and Hobart are same' is imprecise, as the data shows slight variations. Furthermore, the description of the data is sometimes repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical focus. While the main features are selected, the comparison between cities could be more effectively synthesised rather than listing figures city-by-city. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are grouped logically to highlight the most significant differences and similarities rather than simply transcribing the numbers.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward. Phrases like 'In detail' and 'Subsequently' are used to transition between points, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. For example, the transition from the first paragraph to the second is abrupt. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which city or category is being discussed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is a reliance on basic descriptors such as 'highest', 'maximum', and 'peak', which are repeated throughout the text. Some word choices are unnatural, such as 'ratio of percentage of people having drinking habits' and 'survey showed that people went to a cafe... was greatest'. These inaccuracies in collocation and phrasing slightly hinder the fluency of the writing. To improve, you should aim to use a wider range of synonyms and more sophisticated reporting verbs or nouns to describe the data trends, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', or 'a significant majority'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles ('in Australian cities'), incorrect verb forms ('people went to a cafe... was greatest'), and awkward sentence construction ('fresh coffee bought by people was around 40%'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and articles would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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