Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-16

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 barchart illustrates the information about the consumption of coffee, tea and drinking habits of five different cities by residents of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart). Units are measured in percentage form.

Overall, it is clear that Melbourne and Hobart had the highest proportion of coffee and tea in last four weeks. While Adelaide had recorded the lowest percentage. The ratio of instant coffee was purchased more in Hobart and Brisbane. Whereas, the proportion of fresh coffee was the smallest among other categories.

Melbourne is accounted for the largest number of people went to cafe for coffee or tea with the percentage around 64. Followed by Hobart, its ratio was slightly less as compared to Melbourne. In contrast, Adelaide had the smallest share as compared to others. Around 54 percent of the instant coffee packets was purchased by the residents of Hobart. Now the similar trend was held with Brisbane, which was marginally lower than Hobart.

Sydney has had the highest number of fresh coffee purchased in last 4 weeks with around 44 percentage. Which got reduced to 42 percent in Melbourne. Whereas Brisbane and Adelaide both had the same percentage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student covers all three categories from the chart across the five cities, satisfying the basic requirements of the prompt. An overview is attempted, stating that Melbourne and Hobart had high proportions while Adelaide was generally lower, though the summary contains inaccuracies regarding fresh versus instant coffee trends. The student correctly notes that Melbourne recorded the highest percentage of cafe visits (around 63.5%) and that Sydney led in fresh coffee purchases (44%). However, some data points are misreported or generalized incorrectly, such as stating Melbourne had the highest proportion of coffee and tea overall when Hobart actually led in instant coffee and cafe visits were highest in Melbourne. The comparison of fresh coffee shows a minor inaccuracy, stating Melbourne dropped to 42 percent while it was actually 42.5%. While the key features are generally touched upon, the lack of complete accuracy in the overview and body paragraphs prevents a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into four paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and an overall summary, followed by body paragraphs grouping the data. However, the logical progression is hindered by awkward grouping and abrupt transitions. For instance, the second body paragraph awkwardly jumps between cafe visits in Melbourne and instant coffee in Hobart. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate or mechanical, such as 'Now the similar trend was held with Brisbane'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in sentences like 'Followed by Hobart, its ratio was slightly less as compared to Melbourne.' Paragraphing is used to separate ideas, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs lacks smooth flow. Overall, the organizational structure is basic and at times disjointed, aligning with Band 5.5 standards.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, employing terms such as 'proportion', 'consumption', 'ratio', and 'category'. However, there is a limited range of less common lexical items, and word choice is frequently unnatural or imprecise. Examples include 'The barchart illustrates the information about' instead of 'depicts data on', 'The ratio of instant coffee was purchased more' (coffee cannot be a ratio that is purchased), and 'Melbourne is accounted for' instead of 'accounted for' or 'recorded'. There are also minor lexical errors in collocation and phrasing, such as 'with the percentage around 64' and 'percentage of the instant coffee packets was purchased'. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points, but lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text. For example, 'The barchart illustrates the information about the consumption of coffee, tea and drinking habits of five different cities by residents of Australia' contains a faulty modifier structure. Other errors include sentence fragments or run-ons, such as 'Which got reduced to 42 percent in Melbourne', where a relative clause is punctuated as an independent sentence. Punctuation and article usage are occasionally shaky, though the meaning remains generally clear despite the errors. Because complex structures frequently contain errors and simple forms dominate, this falls into the Band 5.5 category.

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

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