Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-02
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 GIVEN BELOW ILLUSTRATES THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY ABOUT INDIVIDUALS COFFEE,TEA BUYING AND DRINKING HABITS IN FIVE DIFFERENT CITIES IN AUSTRALIA.
FROM OVERALL PROSPECTIVE, SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE AND HOBART EXPERIENCE SLIGHTLY SAME PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO WENT TO CAFE FOR COFFEE OR TEA IN LAST 4 WEEKS MOREOVER SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE EXPERIENCE MINOR CHANGE IN PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT INSTANT COFFEE IN LAST 4 WEEKS.
AFTER ANALYSING THE DATA, THE SYDNEY EXPERIENCES A MINOR DIFFERENCE IN PERCENTAGE OF PUBLIC WHO BROUGHT FRESH COFFEE AND PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT INSTANT COFFEE IN LAST 4 WEEKS THAT IS BETWEEN 40 TO 45% MOREOVER THE PEOPLE WHO WENT CAFE FOR COFFEE IS AROUND 60% .BRISBANE AND ADELAIDE EXPERIENCES SAME PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT FRESH COFFEE MOREOVER BRISBANE SHOWS ALMOST SAME PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT INSTANT COFFEE AND WHO WENT TO CAFE FOR COFFEE THAT IS AROUND 50 TO 55%.
FURTHERMORE,HOBART EXPERIENCE PEOPLE WHOBRUGHT FRESH COFFEE IS LIE BETWEEN 40 TO 45% MOREOVER THE INDIVIUALS WHO BROUGHT INSTANT COFFEE IS CLOSE TO 55% ADDITIONALLY THE PUBLIC WHO WENT TO CAFE IS AROUND 60 TO 65%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying trends across the five cities. However, the analysis is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in data reporting. For instance, stating that Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart experience 'slightly same percentage' is vague and grammatically awkward. While the key categories (fresh coffee, instant coffee, and cafe visits) are addressed, the comparisons are not always clearly articulated, and the report relies heavily on listing figures rather than synthesizing the information. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the data more effectively and using more precise comparative language to highlight the differences between the cities.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and a lack of varied cohesive devices. You rely heavily on 'moreover' and 'furthermore' to link ideas, which makes the writing feel mechanical. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the transition between cities is abrupt. Paragraphing is present, but the internal logic within the paragraphs could be improved by using a wider range of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one rather than simply listing data points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the word 'experience' (e.g., 'Sydney experiences a minor difference') and 'brought' (which should be 'bought'). There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise collocations related to data description. To improve, you should incorporate more varied verbs and adjectives to describe trends, such as 'witnessed,' 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' or 'a significant proportion.' The spelling error 'WHOBRUGHT' and the misuse of 'brought' instead of 'bought' also detract from the overall quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Brisbane and Adelaide experiences'), incorrect word forms (e.g., 'brought' instead of 'bought'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several instances of missing spaces after periods. The sentence structures are often repetitive, relying on a similar pattern throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your sentence structures are varied and punctuated correctly.
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.