Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-27
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The chart below shows how frequently people in the USA ate in fast food restaurants between 2003 and 2013.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
In 2003, the people in the USA were found to eat the lowest amount of fast food. The least amount of people to never eat fast food was in the year 2013 and 2006, while in 2003 the frequency of people eating fast food was higher. In 2013, most of the people used to eat fast food once or twice a month. Whereas, in 2006, the highest amount of people eating fast food was once a week.The same goes for the year 2003, the highest amount of people eating fast food was once a week.Other than this, the amount of people to never eat fast food was same in the year 2006 and 2013 whereas, the number was higher for this in the year 2003. The amount of people to eat fast food a few times a year was same for the years 2006 and 2013. While, lesser comparatively in 2003.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response attempts to cover the main features of the chart, but the analysis is often confusing and inaccurate. For instance, the statement that 'the people in the USA were found to eat the lowest amount of fast food' in 2003 is unclear and lacks specific data support. The comparison between years is repetitive and lacks a clear overview or logical grouping of the data categories. While the response identifies some trends, it fails to clearly highlight the most significant changes or provide a cohesive summary of the data, leading to an under-developed response that struggles to convey the information effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay lacks a clear structure. It is written as a single block of text, which makes it difficult to follow. The progression of ideas is disjointed, and the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'the amount of people' and 'the same goes for'. There is no clear paragraphing to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. To improve, you should group related data points together and use a wider variety of linking words to guide the reader through your comparison of the three years.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on the phrase 'the amount of people' throughout the text, which is imprecise when referring to frequency categories. There is little attempt to use less common vocabulary or precise terminology related to data description (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'peaked', 'proportion'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of lexical variety and the repetitive phrasing prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on synonyms and more academic collocations will significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. For example, 'The least amount of people to never eat fast food was in the year 2013 and 2006' is grammatically awkward. There are also issues with sentence fragments and punctuation, such as 'Whereas, in 2006...' and 'While, lesser comparatively in 2003.' These errors occasionally impede the flow of the text. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentences are complete and correctly punctuated.
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