Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18
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 6.0)
The bar chart compares frequency with which people in the USA ate in the fast food restaurants in the year 2003, 2006 and 2013.
Overall, in all three years the most common would be ''once a week'' or ''once or twice a month''. And very few people reported eating fast food ''every day'' or '' never eating it''.
Looking at the weekly categories first, the proportions who eat the fast food on '' weekly basis'' was highest in 2006 at just over the 33 percent. And it is a popular choice in the year 2003 nearly over 31 percent. And it dropped to 25% in the year 2013. Similarly, who ate fast food ''several times a week'' was the highest in the year 2006 nearly about 20%. And people who ate fast food in 2003 are nearly 20%. And it also dropped to 17% in the year 2013.
Turing to less frequent consumption '' once or twice a month'' is very high about 31% in the tear 2003. Then it rose to the most common category was about 34% in the year 2006. Then it declined to 27% in 2013. The proportion who eats ''few times a month'' was fairly stable, rising slightly from 13% to 16%. Finally, the ''never'' category stayed low and declined marginally 6% to 5%.
In summary, while weekly consumption declined slightly, there was a clear shift towards eating fast food once or twice a month by 2013.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have successfully identified the main features and trends of the data. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant patterns, such as the prevalence of weekly consumption and the shift in habits by 2013. You have also made relevant comparisons between the years. However, the report could be improved by ensuring the data points are cited more accurately; for example, stating 'nearly over 31 percent' is contradictory and imprecise. To reach a higher band, ensure that all figures are described with precision and that the distinction between categories is clearly maintained throughout the analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on different consumption frequencies. The progression of ideas is generally smooth. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Looking at', 'Turning to', and 'In summary', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is slightly disrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'Similarly, who ate fast food'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is consistent will help improve the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey the information, using terms like 'proportions', 'consumption', 'stable', and 'marginally'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the most common would be' instead of 'the most common category was', and 'in the tear 2003' (a typo). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained consistent', and ensure that your word choices are precise and contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the fast food restaurants'), subject-verb agreement ('The proportion who eats'), and preposition usage ('in the year 2003' is often better as 'in 2003'). Some sentences are fragmented or awkwardly constructed, such as 'And it is a popular choice in the year 2003 nearly over 31 percent.' Focusing on reducing these minor errors and refining your control over complex sentence structures will help improve your accuracy and range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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