Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The supplied bar cart illustrates the frequency of Americans eating from fast food restaurants during 2003 to 2013.

Overall, it is immediately apparent that the majority of residents of USA usually ate once in a week or in a month and a mere proportion eat everyday or never.

In 2003, around 5% of Americans were eating fast food either regularly or never while 30% were consuming it once a week or a month. The individuals eating various time a week were over 15 while those who eat a few times a year were below this figure.

Afterwards, in 2006 and 2013 the number of people who ate everyday never or a few times a year remained same at below about 3%, 5% and exactly 15% respectively. On the contrary, Americans eating a few time per annum were a quarter in 2006 but their number rose to approximately 32% in the following year. In the rest two groups: several time a week and once a week, the quantity of consumer in 2006 lead by about 5%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides an overview and selects key features, but the reporting of data is often inaccurate or confusing. For instance, the description of the 2006 and 2013 data is difficult to follow, and the claim that figures 'remained same' is not supported by the chart. Furthermore, the phrasing 'the quantity of consumer in 2006 lead by about 5%' is vague and fails to clearly compare the categories. While the main trends are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the data points significantly hinders the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that comparisons are made using clear, comparative language.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Afterwards' is used to introduce a new paragraph, but the subsequent sentences lack clear logical progression. Referencing is also problematic; phrases like 'the rest two groups' and 'in the following year' (when referring to 2013) are confusing. The flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking words and ensuring that the relationship between the data points is clearly established for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'bar cart' instead of 'bar chart', 'various time a week', and 'quantity of consumer'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a marginal increase', and ensure that collocations are used correctly to convey information more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the majority of residents of USA usually ate', 'the number of people who ate everyday never or a few times a year remained same', and 'in the rest two groups'. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and sentence structure would be highly beneficial.

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

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