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 chart below illustrates how frequently people in the USA ate fast food in restaurants between 2003, 2006and 2013.

The frequency of eating fast food is as in 2003, 4% people ate fast food everyday while in 2006 and 2013 3.5% people ate fast food everyday .

In 2006 highest percentage of 33% people ate fast food once a week then 25% people ate once or twice a month from restaurants , after that 20% people ate several times a week , 15% people ate fast food few times a year and 4% people never ate fast food from restaurants.

In 2003 , 31% people ate once a week , 30% people ate once or twice a month , 17% people at several times a week ,13% people ate few times a year and 4% people never ate fast food from restaurants.

In 2013, 28% people ate fast food from restaurants once a week , which is less than 34% who eats once or twice a month from restaurants ,then 16% ate several times a week , 15% ate few times a year and 4% never ate fast food from restaurants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the data, but it lacks a clear overview or summary of the trends. Instead of synthesizing the information, the response lists data points year by year in separate paragraphs. This approach makes it difficult for the reader to identify the significant changes or comparisons between the years. To reach a higher band, you should group the data by category or trend rather than by year, and include a clear introductory sentence that highlights the most striking features of the chart, such as the shift in the most popular frequency category from 2006 to 2013.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is mechanical. Each paragraph simply lists figures without using cohesive devices to link the data or compare the years effectively. For example, the transition between the 2006 and 2003 data is abrupt. While there is some use of linking words like 'while' and 'then', the overall structure relies heavily on repetitive sentence patterns. To improve, use a wider variety of cohesive devices (e.g., 'In contrast,' 'Conversely,' 'Similarly') to show the relationship between the different categories and years.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety. You rely heavily on the phrase 'people ate fast food' throughout the response, which becomes repetitive. There is an attempt to use some specific vocabulary, but the range is limited. To improve, try to use synonyms or paraphrasing to describe the data, such as 'individuals,' 'consumers,' 'frequently,' 'occasionally,' or 'the proportion of respondents.' Additionally, ensure that you use more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'remained stable,' 'witnessed a decline,' or 'experienced a significant increase.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. For example, there are missing spaces after commas (e.g., '2003 , 31%'), incorrect verb forms ('who eats' instead of 'who ate'), and awkward phrasing ('as in 2003, 4% people'). These errors do not completely impede communication, but they are noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage, as the data refers to past years. Proofreading for basic punctuation and spacing will also significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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