Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-05
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 5.0)
The bar chart compares the propotions of individuals who used to it in fast food restaurants over a decay in America.
People who ate from fast food restaurants everyday and who ate never almost have same frequency. Moreover trend of eating fast food is more significant once a week and once or twice a month.
Eating junk food in the restaurants was at peak in 2013 with approximately 33% of Americans used to eat outside once or twice a week. This frequency reduced to almost 15% to 20% for the individuals going occasionaly several times a week or a few times a years. Whereas, Both Americans who used to eat processed food at restaurants everyday and who never go outside, were in less proportion lie below 5%.
Overall as the frequency of eating outside increased, ther e is reduction in percentage of people going to restaurants for meals in all year 2003, 2006 and even in 2013.
In 2013 there were maximum propotion of American almost 34% going outside for fast food.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarise the data but fails to provide a clear overview of the main trends. While some data points are mentioned, the analysis is fragmented and lacks a logical selection of key features. For instance, the statement that the frequency of eating 'everyday' and 'never' are the same is inaccurate based on the chart. Furthermore, the conclusion provided in the final paragraph is confusing and does not accurately reflect the data presented. To improve, you should focus on identifying the most significant trends—such as the dominance of the 'once a week' category—and ensure that your comparisons are mathematically accurate and clearly linked to the years provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is often unclear. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical or misused, such as the transition 'Moreover trend of eating fast food is more significant'. Referencing is also problematic; for example, the phrase 'this frequency reduced' does not clearly refer back to a specific antecedent. The final paragraph feels disconnected from the rest of the report, and the overall structure lacks the logical flow required to guide the reader through the data effectively. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and contains several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'propotions' instead of 'proportions', 'decay' instead of 'decade', and 'it' instead of 'eat'. There is also a lack of variety in the language used to describe trends, with repetitive phrasing like 'used to eat'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequent errors and limited range of vocabulary prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on learning specific collocations for describing data, such as 'a significant proportion' or 'a downward trend', and proofread carefully for spelling mistakes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with article usage ('the trend', 'a decay'), verb tense consistency, and sentence structure, such as 'Both Americans who used to eat processed food at restaurants everyday and who never go outside, were in less proportion lie below 5%'. The range of structures is limited, relying mostly on simple sentences. To improve, you should practice using more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or comparative forms, and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing data points.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.