Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-04
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 represents the percentage of people, in five Australian cities, who like to drink coffee and tea in past four weeks.
Overall, the people are preferred to visit coffee shop, and the less common thing in every city is buying fresh and instant coffee.
The most common activity among the people is going to cafe to drink either tea or coffee. Especially people in Melbourne is liked to go to a coffee shop, and it is higher on Hobart and in Sydney too, and the least preference is seen in Adelaide The proportion of people who like instant coffee is slightly higher than cafe visitors in Adelaide, of about half of the total consumers are consuming instant coffee.
The most percentage of people who like to buy instant coffee is seen in Hobart, and the least proportion is seen in Sydney. Among the three way least preferred is to buy fresh coffee, even-though it is least preferred a good percentage of people is seen in Sydney to prefer it. It is least preferred in Brisbane.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the popularity of cafe visits and the variations in instant coffee consumption. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision. For instance, the statement 'the most percentage of people who like to buy instant coffee is seen in Hobart' is accurate, but the report fails to provide specific data points or clear comparisons between the five cities. The description of the data is occasionally confusing, such as the claim that 'the less common thing in every city is buying fresh and instant coffee,' which is not clearly supported by the provided chart. To improve, ensure that key figures are cited to support your observations and that comparisons are more explicitly stated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow of ideas is often disjointed due to awkward phrasing and a lack of effective cohesive devices. For example, the transition 'Among the three way least preferred is to buy fresh coffee' is grammatically unclear and disrupts the logical progression. While there is a basic attempt at paragraphing, the internal cohesion within paragraphs is weak, and the referencing of data is sometimes ambiguous. Using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'in contrast,' 'conversely,' 'furthermore') would help to connect the ideas more fluidly and improve the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'the less common thing' and 'the most percentage,' which are not natural collocations in an academic context. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student relies on repetitive phrasing. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'the highest proportion,' 'a significant minority,' or 'the least popular activity,' and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the people are preferred to visit' (incorrect passive voice), 'people in Melbourne is liked to go' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'it is higher on Hobart' (incorrect preposition). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and passive voice will 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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