Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-17

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 illustrates the results of people's prefrences for consuming tea and purchasing coffee in five different areas of Australia.

Overall, the trend for buying coffee esclates above the other options except in Adelaide.On the other hand, the percentage of prople who bought fresh coffee remain a least selection.

Hobart and Melbourbne superceed the other countries for having coffee from the cafe to above 75%. Adelaide showe a different trend for buying instant coffee where people prefer instant coffee over coffee from cafe and the percentage is 50%. Sydney show the lowest percentage for instant coffee and it is about 47%.

In contrast, the fresh coffee is the least used option in all countries. Brisbane present with the lowest percentage for fresh coffee and it is round about 34%. Sydney has the highest trend for fresh coffee among all countries and it is approximately 44%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart’s subject and make relevant comparisons, including that fresh coffee is generally the least popular option and that Brisbane has the lowest fresh-coffee figure. However, several key details are inaccurate: café visits peak at about 63–64% in Melbourne and Hobart, not above 75%, and Sydney has the lowest instant-coffee figure only narrowly, at roughly 45.5% (not 47%). The overview claim that buying coffee “escalates above the other options” is unclear and does not capture the main pattern: café visits lead in four cities, while instant coffee leads in Adelaide. The response is also four words below the required minimum. Add a clearer overview and accurately compare the leading categories across cities.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction and overview to comparisons of café visits, instant coffee and fresh coffee. This gives the reader some sense of organisation, and phrases such as “On the other hand” and “In contrast” attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview’s comparison of “buying coffee” with “other options” is difficult to follow, and the Adelaide and Sydney details are grouped without a clear organising principle. Some linking phrases also suggest contrasts that are not fully explained. Use a more deliberate sequence—for example, overview first, then café and instant-coffee patterns, followed by fresh coffee—and make each comparison explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “trend,” “lowest,” and “approximately,” and the reader can generally identify the categories being discussed. However, word choice and spelling errors are noticeable and sometimes make the meaning less clear. “Prefrences” and “prople” are misspelled, while “countries” is inaccurate for the Australian cities. Phrases such as “buying coffee esclates above the other options” and “superceed the other countries” are not natural or precise in this context. Aim for straightforward, accurate chart language rather than forcing less familiar expressions. For example, describe a figure as “the highest proportion” or say that café visits “were more popular than” a purchase category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including contrastive clauses and sentences with supporting details, so the response is not limited entirely to simple statements. However, errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and punctuation are frequent enough to affect fluency. For instance, “the percentage … remain” should use a singular verb, and “Adelaide showe” and “Sydney show” need correct verb forms. The sentence beginning “Overall” runs directly into “On the other hand” without a space or clear punctuation. Some constructions, such as “Brisbane present with the lowest percentage,” are also grammatically awkward. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and build clear sentences around the pattern “The proportion of residents who … was …”.

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