Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-11

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 following chart shows the data about the people of USA who ate fast food at restaurants from the year 2003 to 2013.The three main years which have been mentioned or highlighted are 2003, 2006, 2013 and six time frames have been given to elaborate the data.

If we talk about the year 2003 the maximum frequency of people who ate outside is once a week up to 30% which even further increased in 2006 only little less than 35% whereas if we talk about the minimum frequency observed in 2003 is in the time frame of every day less than 5% which is even lesser than the frequency of people who never ate outside in any restaurant.

if we talk about 2006 the maximum frequency is observed in once a week and minimum in everyday time framework. It is even lesser than to the people frequency who never ate outside

Further if we talk about the people of 2013 the maximum frequency is in once or twice a month whereas the minimum is in everyday frequency shown equal to frequency of 2006 period

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the maximum and minimum frequencies for the years 2003, 2006, and 2013, the comparison between categories is underdeveloped. You mention that the maximum frequency in 2003 was 'once a week' and in 2013 it shifted to 'once or twice a month', which is a good observation. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the overall trends, and the data points are occasionally vague (e.g., 'little less than 35%'). To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the most significant changes across the decade.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is repetitive. You rely heavily on the phrase 'if we talk about', which makes the writing feel mechanical and informal. Cohesive devices are limited; for instance, the transition between the 2006 and 2013 data is abrupt. While the logical progression is generally clear, the lack of varied linking words (such as 'in contrast', 'subsequently', or 'meanwhile') hinders the overall cohesion. Improving the variety of transition signals would significantly enhance the readability of your report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You frequently repeat words like 'frequency', 'people', and 'observed'. Phrases such as 'time framework' and 'people frequency' are slightly unnatural in this context. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To reach a higher band, try to use more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'a significant shift', and avoid repeating the same nouns and verbs throughout the response.

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, 'the maximum frequency of people who ate outside is once a week' is grammatically awkward. There are also issues with missing articles ('in 2006 only little less than 35%') and run-on sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are noticeable and occur throughout the text. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve your accuracy.

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

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