Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-15
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 bar graph compares the percentage of people and frequency of eating at fast food restaurants among people in the USA in the years of 2003, 2006 and 2013.
Overall, the percentage of people who ate everyday and those who never ate, had the lowest figure among other groups. However, those ate once a week and once or twice a month had the highest figure among others. Furthermore, in the years of 2006 and 2013 stood same at 15%, those who ate a few times a year.
In 2006, those who ate fast food several times a week had the higher percentage which comes to 20% as compared to the years 2003 and 2013. Those ate once a week had the higher figured 32.5% in 2006 and those ate once or twice a month had stood at 32% in 2013. It is noticed that those who ate everyday and those who never ate had the same percentage with a minor difference in 2006 and 2013.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a general overview and identifies some key features, but it lacks a clear, analytical approach. While you mention the highest and lowest figures, the reporting is somewhat disjointed and lacks a cohesive comparison of trends over the decade. For instance, you mention specific percentages for 2006 and 2013 but fail to describe the overall trajectory of these categories (e.g., whether they increased or decreased). To improve, ensure you group data logically—perhaps by comparing the most popular frequencies versus the least popular—and provide a more comprehensive summary of the changes between 2003 and 2013 rather than just listing isolated data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression within them is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the phrase 'stood same at 15%' or 'had the higher figured 32.5%'. These errors disrupt the flow of information. While there is an attempt to use transition words like 'Furthermore' and 'Overall', the connections between sentences are often forced. To reach a higher band, focus on using referencing (e.g., 'this figure', 'the former', 'the latter') more effectively to link your sentences and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite repetitive and basic. You frequently use phrases like 'had the highest figure' and 'those who ate', which limits the sophistication of your writing. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'stood same at 15%' and 'had the higher figured 32.5%'. To improve, try to incorporate a wider range of synonyms for 'percentage' (e.g., 'proportion', 'share') and 'frequency' (e.g., 'regularity', 'rate'). Additionally, ensure that your verb choices are precise when describing statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies on a limited range of sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'those ate once a week' (missing 'who'), 'had the higher figured 32.5%' (incorrect word form), and 'stood same at 15%' (missing 'the'). The sentence construction is often simplistic, and there is a lack of complex structures. To improve, focus on mastering relative clauses (e.g., 'the group, which consumed fast food weekly, accounted for...') and ensure consistent use of articles and prepositions. Proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and missing auxiliary verbs will also significantly boost your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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