Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-28

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 8.5)

The bar chart compares how often people in the USA ate at fast food restaurants in 2003, 2006 and 2013.

Overall, most Americans ate fast food either once a week or once or twice a month during the three years. In contrast, eating fast food every day or never was the least common habit throughout the period.

In 2003, around 31% of people ate at fast food restaurants once a week, making it the most common frequency. This figure increased slightly to about 33% in 2006 before falling to approximately 28% in 2013. By comparison, the percentage of people eating fast food once or twice a month was about 30% in 2003, dropped to 25% in 2006, and then rose to around 33% in 2013, becoming the highest category in that year.

The proportion of people who ate fast food several times a week was about 17% in 2003, increased to 20% in 2006, and then declined to roughly 16% in 2013. Meanwhile, those who ate fast food a few times a year remained fairly stable at around 13–15% across the period. Finally, only a small percentage of Americans ate fast food every day (around 3–4%) or never (about 4–5%), with little change over the ten years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected key data points to illustrate these trends. The comparison between categories is well-handled, particularly the shift in the most common frequency from 2003 to 2013. The data is accurate and supports the summary well. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant differences or 'stand-out' features, such as the notable crossover between the 'once a week' and 'once or twice a month' categories, which you have done well here.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the overview to specific data groupings. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'By comparison', and 'Meanwhile' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the data trends perfectly.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately. Phrases like 'remained fairly stable', 'making it the most common frequency', and 'proportion of people' demonstrate good control. The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the range is good, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increased' and 'decreased' (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'witnessed a marginal rise') would further enhance the lexical sophistication of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('making it the most common frequency') and subordinate clauses. The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and the control over tense usage (past simple for historical data) is consistent and correct throughout the report.

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