Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-11
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)
As the chart below shows the results of a survey about people’s coffee and tea buying and drinking habits in five Australian cities in last 4 weeks which clearly shows that people are addicted to coffee and tea nowadays.
In Sydney and Melbourne nearly about 45% of people bought fresh coffee in last 4 weeks, whereas in Brisbane and Adelaide around 35% of people and in Hobart approximately 40% of people bought fresh coffee in last 4 weeks. Furthermore in Sydney and Melbourne just over 45% people bought instant coffee following it in Brisbane and Hobart nearly 55% of people whereas in Adelaide 50% of people bought instant coffee in last 4 weeks.
Moreover the percentage of people who went to a cafe for coffee and tea in last 4 weeks in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart was nearly about 65% whereas in Brisbane the percentage is slightly higher than 55% compared to it in Adelaide it is close to 50%.
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 the main features of the data, including fresh coffee, instant coffee, and cafe visits across the five cities. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary statement, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. The introduction is repetitive and fails to synthesize the information effectively. While the data points are generally accurate, the analysis is purely descriptive and lacks meaningful comparisons or grouping of trends. To improve, you should include a clear overview paragraph that highlights the most significant trends, such as which city had the highest overall consumption or which category was most popular across all cities.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and repetitive, with phrases like 'in last 4 weeks' appearing in almost every sentence, which creates a monotonous flow. There is a lack of variety in linking words; for instance, 'furthermore' and 'moreover' are used, but the transitions between the specific data points are clunky. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparisons between the cities smoothly. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') and varying your transition signals would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You rely heavily on the same phrases, such as 'percentage of people' and 'bought fresh coffee'. There is little attempt to use less common vocabulary or synonyms to describe trends (e.g., 'figures', 'proportions', 'consumption', 'preference'). The phrasing 'nearly about' is redundant and imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe data, such as 'accounted for', 'witnessed', 'a significant proportion', or 'the highest/lowest figures'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. There is a consistent omission of articles (e.g., 'in last 4 weeks' should be 'in the last 4 weeks'). Some sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, such as the opening sentence, which is a long, fragmented clause. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are frequent enough to cause some distraction. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of 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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