Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17

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 7.5)

The bar chart shows information about the frequency with which people in the USA ate fast food in 2003, 2006 and 2013.

Overall, the chart shows that most people ate fast food either once a week or once or twice a month. In contrast, very few people ate fast food every day. It is also noticeable that the proportion of people who never ate fast food was relatively low in all three years.

The percentage of people who ate fast food every day was below 5% in all three years. It was highest in 2003, at 4%, while the figures for 2006 and 2013 were both 3%. Among those who ate fast food several times a week, 2006 had the highest percentage, at 20%, compared with 17% in 2003 and 16% in 2013.

The largest proportions of people ate fast food once a week or once or twice a month. In the once-a-week category, the figures were 31% in 2003, 33% in 2006 and 28% in 2013. For those who ate fast food once or twice a month, the percentage was 30% in 2003, 25% in 2006 and 33% in 2013.

Finally, the proportion of people who ate fast food a few times a year was 13% in 2003 and 15% in both 2006 and 2013. Meanwhile, the percentage of people who never ate fast food was 5% in 2003 and 4% in both 2006 and 2013.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and supported these with accurate data from the chart. By grouping the categories logically—such as the high-frequency and low-frequency groups—you have successfully highlighted the key features. The comparison between the years is consistent and accurate, meeting the requirements for an Academic Task 1 response. To reach a higher band, ensure that you not only report the figures but also synthesize the information more deeply, perhaps by explicitly contrasting the most significant shifts (e.g., the notable fluctuation in the 'once or twice a month' category) rather than listing data points sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear focus, moving from the overview to specific data groupings. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'It is also noticeable that', and 'Meanwhile' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly. To improve further, you could vary the cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a repetitive structure at the start of each paragraph, ensuring that the transition between the body paragraphs feels even more integrated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly and precisely. Terms like 'proportion', 'category', and 'figures' are used correctly in context. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the task, it remains somewhat functional. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied ways of describing trends, such as 'fluctuated marginally', 'remained relatively stable', or 'experienced a slight decline'. The current vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the 'less common' lexical items that characterize the highest band descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, and the punctuation is accurate throughout. The control over tense usage (past simple for the years 2003–2013) is consistent. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. To move toward a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses (e.g., 'Representing the largest group, the once-a-week category...') to increase the sophistication of your writing.

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

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