Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-13
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 a survey about people's coffee and tea buying and drinking habits in five Australian cities.
Overall, comparing the highest percentage of cities which brought fresh coffee in last 4 weeks is Sydney with up to 44% , while Hobart with 54% of purchase instant coffee in last 4 weeks and people went to cafe for coffee and tea in last 4 weeks is Melbourne. However, Adelaide is at the lowest percentage in every category.
According to the bar chart, coffee and tea purchasing and drinking habits in five Australian cities are illustrated. Therefore, in Sydney about 44% of residence opted fresh coffee and 46% chose instant coffee and 61% preferred cafes for hot beverages in last 4 weeks . Meanwhile, Melbourne invested in up to 43% in fresh coffee while 44% in instant coffee and 64% selected cafes for coffee and tea in last 4 weeks. Nevertheless, Brisbane picked 34% in fresh coffee while 53% in instant coffee and about 55% favored cafe in last 4 weeks.
The remaining chart illustrates that Hobart purchased 39% of fresh coffee and 54% in instant coffee and 64% enjoyed their coffee and tea in cafe. On the other hand, Adelaide with the lowest percentage in every category.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the chart and making appropriate comparisons across the five Australian cities. The overview paragraph successfully highlights key extremes, such as Sydney having the highest percentage for fresh coffee and Melbourne for cafe visits, while Adelaide is correctly identified as having the lowest percentage in every category. However, the data presentation contains some minor inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as claiming Hobart has 54% of purchase instant coffee. While the response fulfills the core requirements by selecting and comparing main features, the development of ideas is slightly hindered by repetitive sentence structures and minor data misinterpretations, placing it firmly at Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs, providing a coherent overall structure. However, paragraphing is somewhat disjointed, and the progression of ideas is occasionally disrupted by awkward transitions, such as starting the third paragraph with 'According to the bar chart, coffee and tea purchasing and drinking habits in five Australian cities are illustrated. Therefore, in Sydney...'. Cohesive devices are sometimes used mechanically or inaccurately, as seen with 'Nevertheless' and 'Meanwhile'. Referencing is generally clear, but referencing errors like 'Adelaide with the lowest percentage' result in incomplete or ungrammatical clauses. Overall, the organizational framework is visible, but cohesion is faulty enough to warrant a Band 5.5.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing statistical data, including terms such as 'percentage', 'category', 'fresh coffee', and 'instant coffee'. However, there are frequent word choice and collocation errors, such as 'brought fresh coffee' instead of 'bought', 'purchase instant coffee' instead of 'purchased', and 'residence' instead of 'residents'. The student attempts less common vocabulary like 'opted' and 'favored', but these are accompanied by grammatical and lexical inaccuracies that occasionally impede smooth reading. Spelling is generally accurate, but the overall lexical control remains limited, fitting the Band 5.5 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting comparative structures such as 'while Hobart with 54% of purchase instant coffee...'. However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in verb forms, prepositions, and sentence fragments. For example, the sentence 'On the other hand, Adelaide with the lowest percentage in every category' lacks a main verb. Other errors include 'cities which brought fresh coffee in last 4 weeks is Sydney' (subject-verb agreement). While simple sentences are generally understandable, attempts at more complex structures often result in faulty grammar that requires reader effort, aligning with a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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