Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-29
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 bar chart illustrates various types of coffee and tea consumption across five Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart).
Overall, a significant number of people visited a cafe to drink both types of drinks in all cities. The ratio of fresh coffee buyers showed the least interest, while the percentage of instant coffee consumers was moderate compared to other categories over the last four weeks.
People in Melbourne city ranked first, with around 68% of local people, while the residents of Brisbane city showed very little interest (34%) in going to cafes to purchase coffee and tea. Around 54%
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response is severely under-length, containing only 100 words compared to the required 150-word minimum, which heavily restricts Task Achievement. While the introduction correctly identifies the chart's topic, the overview is imprecise and confuses the data categories. Furthermore, the body paragraph attempts to report figures but contains major factual inaccuracies. For example, it claims Melbourne ranked first with 'around 68%' and Brisbane residents showed interest at '34%', whereas the actual chart shows Melbourne's highest café figure at 63.5% and Brisbane's café figure at 55.5% (with 34.5% representing fresh coffee purchases in Brisbane/Adelaide). Due to the incomplete length, lack of a fully developed overview, and inaccurate data selection, this response meets the criteria for Band 4.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text attempts a logical structure by starting with an introduction, moving to an overview, and then providing some specific data points. However, the response cuts off abruptly mid-sentence at the end, disrupting overall cohesion and progression. Paragraphing is attempted, but the body paragraph is truncated and fails to develop a coherent grouping of ideas. Transitional phrases are basic, with 'Overall' serving as the primary cohesive device. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as mixing up coffee purchase types with café attendance figures. Because the text is incomplete and cohesion breaks down significantly towards the end, a band score of 5.0 is appropriate.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive ('consumption', 'people', 'cities', 'percentage'). There are some attempts at less common vocabulary such as 'significant number', 'proportion', and 'residents', but word choice and collocation errors are present. For instance, stating 'The ratio of fresh coffee buyers showed the least interest' personifies the ratio incorrectly. Similarly, terms like 'both types of drinks' in the overview are imprecise given the three distinct categories in the chart. While meaning is generally conveyed in the completed sentences, the lexical range is limited and constrained by the short length, justifying a band score of 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The bar chart illustrates...' and 'People in Melbourne city ranked first, with around 68%...'. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and the abrupt ending prevents a full assessment of sentence variety. There are awkward phrasings and minor structural slips, such as 'People in Melbourne city' instead of 'Residents of Melbourne'. Despite these issues, the grammar in the completed sentences does not completely impede communication. Balancing the limited range, occasional structural awkwardness, and the unfinished nature of the text, a band score of 5.0 is awarded.
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