Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-16
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)
The bar chart illustrates the number of people in the USA who ate at fast food restaurants between 200 and 2013.
Overall, it is evident that eating at fast food restaurants once a week made up the highest percentage throughout the period, while everyday and never frequency of eating food represented the lowest percentage.
In 2003, eating at fast food restaurants of people in everyday stood at 4%, while it significantly increased in several times a week just over 15%, and once a week around 30% respectively, whereas it decreased steadily in once or twice a month just 30%, and A few time a year just over 10%, and never eating at fast food restaurants around 5%. Furthermore, in 2006, the proportion of people eating at fast food restaurants every day was nearly 3%, and it grew dramatically to once a week, just over 30%, then it declined sharply to never, about 3%.
In 2013, the proportion of people eating at fast food restaurants every day remained stable compared to 2003, and it rose gradually to once a week, but it fell rapidly to never, to about 3%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a general overview and identifies some key features, but the reporting of data is inconsistent and lacks precision. While you identify the most popular category, the description of the data is often confusing. For example, phrases like 'it significantly increased in several times a week just over 15%' are grammatically unclear and make it difficult to follow the trends. You have attempted to cover the years 2003, 2006, and 2013, but the comparisons are not always logical or accurate based on the provided chart. To improve, focus on clearly linking the specific data points to the categories and ensuring the trends (increases/decreases) are described accurately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader navigate the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as the repetitive use of 'while' and 'whereas' in ways that do not always create logical connections. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph where multiple data points are listed without clear transitions. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a smoother flow of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and somewhat repetitive. You rely on basic verbs like 'increased', 'decreased', 'grew', and 'fell'. While these are appropriate for describing charts, the lack of variety and the awkward phrasing (e.g., 'never frequency of eating food') limit your score. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'A few time a year', which should be 'a few times a year'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained constant', or 'accounted for'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include incorrect preposition usage (e.g., 'eating at fast food restaurants of people in everyday'), subject-verb agreement errors, and awkward sentence construction. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure often feels forced or incomplete. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence patterns and ensuring that your subjects and verbs agree. Proofreading for small errors like 'a few time' versus 'a few times' will also help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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