Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 given bar graph illustrates the result of a survey about people's coffee and tea buying and drinking habits in five Australian cities.

overall, buying instant coffee was the most popular activity in all cities, with the exception of Adelaide where buying instant coffee was slightly common.in contrast fresh coffee was the least popular option in all five cities.

The proportion of people who went to a cafe was highest in Melbourne , at approximately 64%, followed by Hobert at 63% and Sydney at62%.Brisbane recorded a lower figure of around 56%, whie Adelaide has lowest proportion at just 50%.

Regarding coffee purchase instant coffee most popular than fresh coffee in every city.The proportion start instant coffee with 46% in Sydney, 48% in Melbourne and 54% in hobart.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly limits the depth of the analysis. While you have identified some main features, such as the popularity of cafe visits in Melbourne and the general trend of instant coffee, the report is incomplete. You have not fully covered all the data points provided in the chart, and the comparison between cities is underdeveloped. To improve, ensure you provide a comprehensive overview of all categories (cafe visits, fresh coffee, and instant coffee) and include more specific data comparisons across all five cities to ensure the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay has a basic structure with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'in all cities' or 'in every city'. Paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to separate the different categories of data (e.g., cafe visits vs. coffee types). To improve, use a wider range of linking words and phrases to connect sentences and ideas more fluidly, and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. You rely on simple descriptors like 'popular' and 'highest'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'the proportion start instant coffee' which is grammatically and lexically awkward. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied vocabulary related to data description, such as 'predominant', 'marginal', or 'a significant proportion', and ensure accurate collocation when discussing statistics.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include missing articles ('at lowest proportion'), incorrect verb forms ('instant coffee most popular than'), and punctuation issues (missing spaces after periods). The sentence structure is often repetitive. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct subject-verb agreement and the appropriate use of articles. Once these are consistent, work on integrating more complex sentence structures like relative clauses or passive voice to describe the data.

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.