Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

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

Overall, eating fast food once a week or once or twice a month was the most common pattern throughout the period, while eating it every day and never eating it were consistently the least common habits. Over the decade, there was a slight shift from weekly to monthly visits.

In 2003, approximately 31% of Americans ate fast food once a week, making it the largest category, closely followed by those who visited once or twice a month at around 30%. By 2006, the proportion of weekly customers had increased slightly to about 33%, whereas the figure for monthly visits fell to roughly 25%. Meanwhile, the percentage of people eating fast food several times a week rose from about 17% to 20%.

In contrast, by 2013, the most common frequency had become once or twice a month, accounting for approximately 33% of respondents, while the proportion of weekly diners declined to around 28%. The share of people eating fast food several times a week also fell to about 16%. Those who visited only a few times a year increased slightly to around 15%, whereas the percentages of people eating fast food every day and those who never ate it remained very low, at approximately 3% and 4% respectively throughout the period.

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 successfully selected key data points to support your summary. The comparison between the years 2003, 2006, and 2013 is well-handled, and you have correctly identified the shift in the most common frequency of fast food consumption. The data is accurately reported, and the inclusion of specific percentages demonstrates a good grasp of the information presented in the chart. The response is well-structured and covers all categories without omitting significant details.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'throughout the period' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the initial trends from the specific data comparisons. The progression of ideas is smooth, and each sentence contributes to the overall summary without unnecessary repetition or confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately. Phrases such as 'most common pattern', 'consistently the least common habits', and 'proportion of weekly customers' demonstrate a good level of precision. The vocabulary is natural and appropriate for an academic report. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms for 'increased' or 'decreased' could elevate the score further, but the current usage is precise and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and accurate use of subordinate clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and tense consistency is excellent. You have successfully managed the comparison of data across different years using varied sentence patterns. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and the overall control of language is highly commendable for this task type.

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

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