Cambridge 10 Writing Task 1 Test 2 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)

Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.

The Prompt

Fairtrade Coffee and Bananas

The tables below give information about sales of Fairtrade-labelled coffee and bananas in 1999 and 2004 in five European countries.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

The Data

Fairtrade coffee sales (millions of euros)

Switzerland: 3.0 (1999) → 6.0 (2004)

UK: 1.5 (1999) → 20.0 (2004)

Belgium / Luxembourg: 1.0 (1999) → 1.7 (2004)

Sweden: 0.8 (1999) → 1.0 (2004)

Denmark: 1.8 (1999) → 2.0 (2004)

Fairtrade banana sales (millions of euros)

Switzerland: 15.0 (1999) → 47.0 (2004)

UK: 1.0 (1999) → 5.5 (2004)

Belgium / Luxembourg: 0.6 (1999) → 4.0 (2004)

Sweden: 1.8 (1999) → 1.8 (2004)

Denmark: 2.0 (1999) → 3.0 (2004)

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Band 9

170 words

Picks out the two genuinely standout figures, the UK's surge and Sweden's stagnant bananas, and states them precisely.

The two tables compare sales of Fairtrade-labelled coffee and bananas across five European countries in 1999 and 2004.

Overall, sales of both products increased in almost every country over the five-year period, with the UK recording the most dramatic growth in both categories, while Sweden was the only country where banana sales failed to rise at all.

In terms of coffee, the UK saw the largest increase by far, rising from just 1.5 million euros in 1999 to 20 million in 2004, overtaking every other country listed. Switzerland's coffee sales also grew substantially, from 3.0 to 6.0 million euros, while Belgium/Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark saw smaller, more modest increases, each remaining under 2 million euros in 2004.

Banana sales followed a broadly similar pattern. Switzerland recorded by far the highest figures throughout, climbing from 15.0 to 47.0 million euros, while the UK's banana sales grew more than fivefold, from 1.0 to 5.5 million. Sweden was the sole exception, with banana sales remaining static at 1.8 million euros across both years.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Covers every figure accurately, and the overview highlights the two standout features, the UK's coffee surge and Sweden's static banana sales, rather than simply listing numbers from each table.

Coherence & Cohesion: A clear overview precedes detail organised by product, with cohesive devices ("while", "the sole exception") linking countries within each paragraph naturally.

Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("dramatic growth", "overtaking", "more than fivefold", "remaining static") used accurately throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including comparatives and passive forms, used with full control.

Band 8

167 words

Accurate and clearly organised by product, just slightly plainer in its comparative language than a band 9 answer.

The tables give information about how much Fairtrade coffee and bananas were sold in five European countries in 1999 and 2004.

Overall, sales of both coffee and bananas grew in nearly all of the countries during this period, and the UK showed the biggest increase in both products, while Sweden's banana sales barely changed at all. This suggests that consumer interest in Fairtrade products grew fastest in the UK compared to the other four countries.

For coffee, the UK had the largest growth, going from 1.5 million euros to 20 million euros, much higher than any other country. Switzerland also increased significantly, from 3.0 to 6.0 million euros, while Belgium/Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark had smaller increases, staying below 2 million euros by 2004.

For bananas, Switzerland had the highest sales in both years, growing from 15.0 to 47.0 million euros. The UK's banana sales also grew a lot, from 1.0 to 5.5 million euros, but Sweden stayed almost the same, at 1.8 million euros in both years.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports all figures accurately with a clear overview, though "barely changed at all" is a slightly less precise way of flagging Sweden's static figure than stating it as the sole exception.

Coherence & Cohesion: Organised clearly by product with an overview followed by detail; transitions ("For coffee", "For bananas") are accurate though plainer than a band 9 answer's.

Lexical Resource: Good range of vocabulary, though "grew a lot" is repeated and less precise than more specific comparative phrasing.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentences and no noticeable errors.

Band 7

168 words

All figures are correct and clearly organised, but comparative language stays narrow throughout.

The tables show information about sales of Fairtrade coffee and bananas in five European countries in 1999 and 2004.

Overall, most countries sold more coffee and bananas in 2004 than in 1999, and the UK had the biggest increase in both products, but Sweden's banana sales did not really change. This suggests that Fairtrade products became more popular in some countries much faster than in others.

Looking at coffee, the UK went from 1.5 million euros to 20 million euros, which is a very big increase compared to other countries. Switzerland also went up, from 3.0 to 6.0 million euros. The other three countries, Belgium/Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark, had smaller increases and stayed under 2 million euros.

For bananas, Switzerland had the highest sales both times, going from 15.0 to 47.0 million euros. UK bananas also increased a lot, from 1.0 to 5.5 million euros, but Sweden stayed the same at 1.8 million euros. This was the only figure in either table that did not increase at all.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports the figures accurately with a basic overview, but the overview reads as a restatement of the data rather than a genuinely analytical summary.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clear structure organised by product, though "went up" is repeated in place of more varied comparative language.

Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task, with some repetition of "increase" and "went" across paragraphs.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures with occasional coordination; meaning is always clear.

Band 6.5

157 words

The figures are all correct and the structure is sound, but agreement errors appear on almost every line.

The table show information about sale of Fairtrade coffee and banana in five European country in 1999 and 2004.

Overall, most country sell more coffee and banana in 2004 than 1999, and UK have biggest increase in both product, but Sweden banana sale not really change. This show that Fairtrade product become popular much faster in some country compare to other.

Looking at coffee, UK go from 1.5 million euro to 20 million euro, which is very big increase compare to other country. Switzerland also go up, from 3.0 to 6.0 million euro. Other three country, Belgium/Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark, have smaller increase and stay under 2 million euro.

For banana, Switzerland have highest sale both time, go from 15.0 to 47.0 million euro. UK banana also increase a lot, from 1.0 to 5.5 million euro, but Sweden stay same at 1.8 million euro. This is only number in both table that not go up at all.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports all figures accurately across both tables with a basic overview naming the UK's growth and Sweden's static figure.

Coherence & Cohesion: Organised clearly by product, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.

Lexical Resource: Limited by consistent missing plurals ("country", "euro", "product" used throughout instead of their plural forms).

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement errors ("table show", "country sell", "UK have", "UK go", "Switzerland go up", "country have") appear in nearly every sentence, though the figures stay accurate.

Band 4-5 - What to Avoid

69 words

Vague figures, a missing overview, and a speculative aside about Sweden's preferences instead of reporting the data.

This table show coffee and banana sale. UK coffee go up very much, from 1.5 to 20. Switzerland also go up a little.

Banana also increase. Switzerland have big number, 15 to 47. UK go up too, small to more.

Sweden banana same number both year, this is interesting because other country all go up but Sweden not change, I don't know why maybe they don't like banana more.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Several figures are reported vaguely instead of precisely ("small to more" instead of "1.0 to 5.5 million euros"), there is no real overview, and the closing sentence speculates about why Sweden's figure didn't change, which is outside the scope of a data report. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.

Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as a loose list of remarks about each country rather than an organised comparison between the two tables.

Lexical Resource: Vague, imprecise language ("small to more", "big number") is used in place of the actual figures given in the source data.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("table show", "coffee go up", "banana also increase", "Sweden banana same number").

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These sample answers are written independently for Prep IELTS Now to illustrate real band-score differences. They are a study aid, not official Cambridge or IELTS material.