Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-03

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 compares the individuals' habit of buying and drinking coffee and tea in five different cities of Australia in the last four weeks.

Overall, people prefer to go to a cafe for coffee and tea, but there is one exception in the case of Adelaide. The least preference for buying fresh coffee and tea in the last four weeks. Buying instant coffee mostly has a second, but in one case it had the highest proportion.

In the case of Sydney, individuals who had gone to a cafe in the last four weeks had the highest percentage, around 60%. Additionally, buying fresh and instant coffee had proportions of around 44% and about 45%, respectively. Regarding Melbourne and Brisbane, all had the same trend but a difference in percentage. In Melbourne, going to a cafe for coffee had around 60%, as compared to fresh and instant tea with around 50% and about 45%, respectively. In Brsibane, we went to a cafe led with around 55%, followed by instant and fresh coffee with around 53% and 34%, respectively.

In contrast, instant coffee took the first rank account for 50% and went to cafes with 49%, as compared to fresh coffee with a small proportion of 34%. In Hobart, going to a cafe class again sustained the highest share with around 65%, but instant and fresh coffee accounted for 49% and around 40%, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the data and provided relevant comparisons between the cities. However, the report is somewhat hampered by unclear descriptions of the categories. For instance, you refer to 'fresh and instant tea' in the Melbourne paragraph, but the chart refers to coffee and tea habits. Additionally, the summary in the second paragraph is confusing; stating 'the least preference for buying fresh coffee and tea' is vague and does not clearly reflect the data. To improve, ensure you explicitly name the categories (e.g., 'visited a cafe', 'bought fresh coffee') and provide a more precise overview of the trends rather than general statements that are difficult to follow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'In contrast' and 'Additionally' to link ideas. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical or confusing. For example, the transition between discussing Melbourne and Brisbane is abrupt, and the reference to 'we went to a cafe' is inappropriate for an academic report, which should remain objective. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which data point belongs to which city or category. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent, objective referencing will enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'sustained', and 'account for'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and some confusion regarding the categories, such as referring to 'fresh and instant tea' when the data relates to coffee. There are also minor errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'took the first rank account for'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology to describe statistical trends and ensure that the labels for the categories are accurate according to the provided chart.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'In Brsibane, we went to a cafe led with around 55%' and 'the least preference for buying...'. These errors, while they do not completely impede communication, occur regularly. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and awkward phrasing that detract from the overall clarity. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic sentence construction and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound. Reducing the frequency of these errors will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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