Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-19

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 chart illustrates that people living in USA ate in fast food cuisines more commonly between 2003 and 2013 .

Overall, in 2003, around 32% people ate food once a week and in 2006, more people ate fast food once or twice in a month but in 2013, the ratio decreased.

In 2003, only 4% people used to eat fast food everday but this ratio increased around 17% in several times a week. after time passing 30% people ate food in cuisines once a week but ratio decreased

in 2006, 32% people ate food once a week and it decreased around 25% only when people went to eat food in fast food restaurants

in 2013, 34% people ate food once or twice a month. but in 2003, 2006 and 2013 only 10 to 15% percent people ate in fast food restaurants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you attempt to report on the data, the summary is fragmented and lacks a clear, logical overview of the main trends. You mention specific percentages, but the data presentation is often confusing, making it difficult for the reader to follow the trends across the three years. To improve, ensure you group data logically (e.g., by category or by year) and provide a clear summary of the most significant changes rather than listing isolated figures. The under-length penalty is applied here as the response is incomplete.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks a clear paragraph structure, appearing as a series of disconnected sentences rather than a cohesive report. There is a lack of logical progression between ideas, and the use of cohesive devices is very limited. For example, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the use of 'but' and 'after time passing' is repetitive and often misused. To improve, use clear paragraphing to separate your introduction, overview, and specific data points. Use a wider range of linking words such as 'furthermore', 'in contrast', or 'consequently' to connect your ideas more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'ate food' or 'ate in fast food restaurants', which is not the most natural way to describe the data. There are also errors in word choice, such as using 'cuisines' to refer to the restaurants themselves, which is inaccurate. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the information with precision. To improve, try to use more varied terminology such as 'frequency of consumption', 'dining habits', 'a significant proportion', or 'a downward trend' to describe the data points more professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with articles ('in USA'), prepositions, and sentence structure. Many sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'after time passing 30% people ate food in cuisines once a week but ratio decreased'. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the information. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures and struggle with complex ones. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring subjects and verbs agree, and practice using more complex structures like relative clauses or passive voice to describe the data more accurately.

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