Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

firstly, looking on to the graph it can be identified that the fast food has a great potential in USA whether if it is in early years of the first decade of the 20th Century.

As we have a look on the stats for the people having food every day the first thing we do notice is that people in 2003 as compared with the years 2006 and 2013 can be seen that more people would have been preffering to eat food from the restaurants, It can be because of low rates of inflation due to which people would be having more disposable income available so that they could be spending on themselves, improving their standards of livings.

On the other side, we do have the histograms data for the people having food at the restaurants. The main thing that we notice is starting of the histograms to rapidly increase. As we can see

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to adequately address the task. While it attempts to describe the data, it does not provide a clear overview or a summary of the main features. Crucially, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence. It also introduces external information (inflation and disposable income) which is not present in the graph and is irrelevant to a data summary task. To improve, focus on reporting the actual figures and trends shown in the chart rather than speculating on causes. Ensure all categories are covered and the response is finished in full sentences.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks a logical structure. The introduction is confusing, and the transition between the first and second paragraphs is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, such as 'On the other side', which does not fit the context of describing a chart. Paragraphing is present but the content within the paragraphs is not well-organized. The abrupt ending significantly hinders the overall flow and coherence of the text. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, focused topic would greatly enhance the readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'looking on to the graph' and 'having food at the restaurants'. The word choice is often imprecise, and there are spelling errors like 'preffering'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe trends or data points effectively. To reach a higher band, you should learn specific collocations for describing charts, such as 'a significant increase', 'a downward trend', or 'remained stable'. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns will help you communicate the data more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement, incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence structures, such as 'whether if it is in early years'. The use of complex structures is attempted but often results in errors, such as the long, convoluted sentence regarding inflation. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with comma splices and missing full stops. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction before attempting more complex structures. Ensure that your sentences are grammatically complete and that you proofread for basic errors in tense and word order.

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

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