Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-06

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 5.0)

The chart depicts the results of a survey conduct about people's coffee and tea purchasing and drinking habits in five Australian cities; Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Hobart.

Overall, it can be seen that, Melbourne and Hobart purchase highest percentage of instant coffee during the period, compared with fresh coffee and tea, while, at least fresh coffee in Brisbane and Adelaide.

In terms of fresh coffee, The highest percentage of buying for went to a cafe for coffee or tea in last 4 weeks in Sydney and Brisbane, at round 65%, compared with fresh coffee and instant coffee at least 40% to 50%. Meanwhile, Sydney and Melbourne are purchasing coffee or tea in the cafe for last 4 weeks, at 64% respectively, instant coffee at 50%, and Fresh coffee around 45%.

On the other hand, the lowest percentage of buying for fresh coffee in last four weeks, ranging for 35%, instant coffee and coffee or tea almost same percentage in last 4 weeks about 50%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to summarize the data but fails to clearly communicate the main features. The description of the data is often confusing, particularly in the second and third paragraphs where the figures are presented in a way that is difficult to follow. For example, the phrase 'at least fresh coffee in Brisbane and Adelaide' is grammatically incomplete and unclear. While the response identifies the five cities and the three categories, the lack of precision in reporting the data makes it difficult for the reader to understand the trends. The overview is present but lacks clarity, and the comparisons are not effectively developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'in last 4 weeks' which does not help the flow of the text. Referencing is often unclear, making it difficult to link the data points to the specific cities or categories mentioned. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks logical sequencing, which hinders the overall readability of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic phrasing, such as 'buying for' and 'percentage of', which are used incorrectly in several instances. There are noticeable errors in word choice, such as 'survey conduct' instead of 'survey conducted' and 'at round 65%' instead of 'at around 65%'. These errors, combined with the limited vocabulary, make the writing feel somewhat unnatural and occasionally impede the reader's ability to grasp the intended meaning of the data comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement, incorrect preposition usage, and sentence fragments. For instance, 'The highest percentage of buying for went to a cafe' is syntactically incorrect. Punctuation is also problematic, particularly the misuse of semicolons and commas. While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often faulty, leading to confusion. The majority of sentences contain errors, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band score for grammatical accuracy.

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

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