Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-31

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 the percentages of people in the USA who ate at fast-food restaurants at six different frequencies in 2003, 2006 and 2013.

Overall, eating fast food once a week or once or twice a month was the most common habit throughout the period, whereas eating it every day or never was consistently the least common. In addition, there was a slight shift from weekly consumption towards monthly visits by 2013.

In 2003, the largest proportion of Americans, at 30%, ate fast food once a week, closely followed by those who visited once or twice a month (also 30%). The figure for several times a week stood at approximately 17%, while only 4% ate fast food every day. Around 13% of people consumed it only a few times a year, and roughly 5% never visited fast-food restaurants.

By 2006, the percentage of people eating fast food once a week had increased slightly to 33%, making it the most common frequency. In contrast, the proportion of those eating it once or twice a month fell to around 25%. However, by 2013 this pattern had reversed, with once or twice a month becoming the most popular category at approximately 33%, while the figure for once a week declined to about 28%. The remaining categories showed only minor fluctuations, with daily and never remaining below 5% throughout the period.

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 that captures the main trends, such as the shift from weekly to monthly consumption and the stability of the extreme categories. The data is selected well, with clear comparisons made between the three years provided. You have successfully highlighted the key features without becoming bogged down in unnecessary detail. The information is accurate and directly supported by the data presented in the chart. To reach a band 9, you could further refine the overview by explicitly mentioning the specific years or the overall magnitude of the changes, but the current response is already highly effective.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction and overview to the specific data points for 2003 and then the comparative analysis for 2006 and 2013. You have used a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'whereas', 'in addition', 'in contrast', and 'however', which help the reader follow the flow of information. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout. The structure is coherent, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow and logically sequenced.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'largest proportion', 'minor fluctuations', and 'consistently the least common' demonstrate a good command of language appropriate for a data description task. The vocabulary is precise and fits the context well. While the range is good, it could be slightly more ambitious to reach the highest band; for example, using more varied synonyms for 'increased' or 'declined' would enhance the lexical variety. However, the current usage is natural and error-free, effectively communicating the trends without any ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response demonstrates a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of complex structures, such as subordinate clauses ('while only 4% ate fast food every day') and comparative constructions, with very high accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The control over tense usage (past tense for the historical data) is consistent and correct. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a sophisticated grasp of English grammar suitable for an academic task.

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