Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The given horizontal column graph depicts the information about how frequently people in the United States of America ate in fast food restaurants between 2003 and 2013. The data has been calibrated into percentage.

Overall, it is crystal clear that the highest frequency of eating at the restaurant was once a week while the lowest percentile of eating fast food at the restaurant was on everyday.

At a fleeting glance, on every day around 4% of the fast food is consumed everyday by people in year 2003 whereas, the ratio was similar in year 2006 and 2013 for everyday people consuming fast food. While, the largest proportion of consuming fast food was several times a week which was in year 2006 of 20% and which was followed by 16% in year 2013 while 17% in year 2003 respectively. Surprisingly, the largest proportion of fast food was consumed once a week which was 32% in year 2003 and which gradually rises to 34% in another year and decline to 26% in year 2013.

Moving further, percentile of eating fast food at restaurants once or twice a month was 30% in year 2003 which slowly decline to 25% after three years. Moreover, in few times a year consumption of fast food remain similar in years 2006 and 2013 which was 15% respectively, but it was considerably lower in year 2013 which was 14%. Lastly, in never eating fast food at a restaurant the ratio was same in year 2006 and 2013 which was 4% but was 5% in the year 2003.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the chart and provided a clear overview. You included data points for all categories and years, which is essential for Task 1. However, there are some inaccuracies in your data reporting. For example, you state that the proportion for 'several times a week' was 20% in 2006 and 16% in 2013, but the chart shows different values. Additionally, your description of the 'everyday' category is slightly confusing. To improve, ensure that your data extraction is precise and that you group information logically rather than listing every figure, which can make the report feel like a list rather than an analytical summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'At a fleeting glance', and 'Moving further' to signal transitions. However, some of the linking is mechanical, and the use of 'while' and 'which' is occasionally repetitive or grammatically awkward, such as in the sentence 'which was 32% in year 2003 and which gradually rises to 34% in another year and decline to 26% in year 2013'. Improving the variety of your cohesive devices and ensuring they flow more naturally will help elevate your score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey the information, using terms like 'proportion', 'calibrated', and 'frequency'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For instance, 'calibrated into percentage' is not the most natural way to describe data, and 'everyday people' is an incorrect use of the adjective 'everyday'. You also repeat the word 'proportion' and 'year' frequently. To reach a higher band, try to use more precise synonyms and avoid repetitive phrasing. Focus on using vocabulary that accurately reflects statistical trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'peaked'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Examples include tense inconsistencies, such as 'which gradually rises... and decline', and issues with article usage and prepositions, such as 'in year 2003' instead of 'in 2003'. There are also errors in subject-verb agreement and sentence construction, such as 'the lowest percentile... was on everyday'. While these errors do not completely obscure meaning, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score. Focus on proofreading for tense consistency and basic sentence structure.

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

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