Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-03

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 compares the coffee and tea drinking habits of residents in Australia across five different cities. Overall, across all cities most residents preferred to visit a cafe shop for coffee or tea in the last 4 weeks, with Adelaide being the only exception. Meanwhile, buying fresh coffee within the last 4 weeks was the least popular option.

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart all followed the same trend, with the third habit being the most popular, followed by the second and finally the last. The figures range from 44%-62% for Sydney, 42%-64% for Melbourne, 34%-55% for Brisbane and 37%-63% for Hobart, with Melbourne recording the most popular activity and Brisbane with the least popular.

Conversely, Adelaide is the only city that does not follow the trend set by the others. The residents here preferred buying instant coffee to the other options. This is evident in the data where 51% preferred the second option compared to the firs

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response identifies the main trends and makes relevant comparisons between the cities. However, the task is incomplete as the text ends abruptly mid-sentence ('compared to the firs'). Furthermore, the description of the data is somewhat vague; referring to categories as 'the third habit' or 'the second option' without explicitly naming them (e.g., 'visited a cafe') makes the report difficult to follow. To reach a higher band, you must clearly label the categories provided in the chart and ensure the summary is fully completed, providing a clear overview of all data points without leaving the reader hanging.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical attempt to group the cities that share similar trends. However, the abrupt ending significantly impacts the coherence of the final paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Meanwhile' and 'Conversely', which help to signal shifts in the narrative. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear concluding thought and that referencing (e.g., 'the third habit') is precise so the reader does not have to guess which data point is being discussed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'compares', 'residents', 'exception', and 'trend'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and the reliance on generic phrases like 'the third habit' or 'the second option' lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is no evidence of sophisticated or less common lexical items. To improve, use more specific terminology related to the data, such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'predominant', or 'marginal', and ensure that the categories from the chart are explicitly named.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The chart compares...' and 'This is evident in the data where...'. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'cafe shop' (redundant) and the incomplete sentence at the end. While the errors do not consistently impede communication, the lack of a finished sentence is a significant issue. To improve, focus on proofreading to ensure all sentences are complete and grammatically sound, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures to demonstrate greater control.

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

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