Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-06
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 illustrates ratio that how frequent people in the USA use to eat at fast food restaurants in three years 2003,2006 and 2013.
Overall, it is quite obvious that American people tends more to visit fast food restaurant once in a week and once or twice in a month on the other hand everyday fast food eaters are very low almost same as who never go for fast food.
Most of the people in USA eat fast food in the restaurants once a week in week With the ratio of 31%,33% and 28% in 2003,2006 and 2013 respectively. In addition to that people having once or twice a month fluctuated considerably as 30% in 2003 than declined to 25% in 2006 and than rose up to almost 33% in 2013.
the people visiting the restaurants for fast food a few time in the year was 13% in 2003 than got high number of 15% which remain the same in 2013. Every day eaters has started low figure of 4% in 2003 than slides down to 3% in 2006 and 2013 while same trend is followed by the people who never ate fast food in restaurants.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all key features of the chart, including the main trends and specific data points for the years 2003, 2006, and 2013. You have successfully identified the most frequent categories and noted the fluctuations in the 'once or twice a month' category. However, the overview is slightly weak; while it mentions the most frequent categories, it could be more precise in summarizing the overall trends across the decade. The data is generally accurate, though the phrasing 'ratio that how frequent' is awkward and impacts the clarity of the introduction. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are clearly linked to the data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'than' (which is often a spelling error for 'then') to sequence time periods. Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, and the referencing could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring correct punctuation would significantly enhance the flow and coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe trends such as 'fluctuated considerably' and 'declined'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'ratio that how frequent' and 'got high number of'. Additionally, there is a recurring spelling error where 'then' is consistently written as 'than'. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary to describe statistical changes and ensure that common function words are used correctly to avoid distracting the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('American people tends', 'Every day eaters has started') and incorrect preposition usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement in lists and dates. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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