Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-04

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 6.0)

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

Overall, most people ate fast food either once a week or once or twice a month, while eating it every day or never was much less common. Also, there were some changes in the most popular eating frequency over the years.

In 2003, around 31% of Americans ate fast food once a week, which was the highest proportion. This figure increased slightly to about 33% in 2006 before falling to roughly 28% in 2013. Meanwhile, the percentage of people who ate fast food several times a week was 17% in 2003, rising to 20% in 2006 and then decreasing to 16% in 2013. Only about 3% to 4% of people ate fast food every day in all three years.

For people who ate fast food once or twice a month, the figure was 30% in 2003, dropping to 25% in 2006, and then increased to about 33% in 2013, making it the most common category in that year. The proportion of those eating fast food a few times a year was around 13% in 2003 and 15% in both 2006 and 2013. Finally, the percentage of people who never ate fast food remained low, at approximately 4% in 2003 and about 3% in the following years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and selected relevant data points to support your descriptions. The comparison between categories is well-handled, particularly the identification of the most popular frequency in 2003 versus 2013. The data is accurately reported, and the structure allows for a logical progression of information. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant differences or shifts rather than listing every single data point, which would further demonstrate your ability to synthesize information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'in addition', and 'finally' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different categories of frequency. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is clear throughout the text. The response is well-structured and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information precisely. Phrases like 'highest proportion', 'remained low', and 'most common category' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, it is somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated synonyms or collocations to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained relatively stable'. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. There is a minor error in the opening sentence ('he bar chart' instead of 'The bar chart'), but this is a minor slip. You have successfully used a variety of structures to report percentages and time-based changes. The grammatical accuracy is high, and the few minor slips do not detract from the overall clarity of the report.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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