Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-20
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 graph illustrates how people in the United States of America frequently ate in fast food restaurants from 2003 to 2013.
Overall, there is a dramatic increase on the percentage of people who ate in fast food restaurants, starting from a low number of people who eats every day then escalated to once a week and once or twice a month
In 2003, at least 30% of people said to have eaten in a fast food restaurant once a week or once or twice a month, then between 2006 and 2013 it escalated to more than 33% of people.
Between
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. Because the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to provide a comprehensive overview or a detailed analysis of the data. While the introduction attempts to paraphrase the prompt, the body paragraphs are underdeveloped and lack the necessary detail to fully report the main features or make meaningful comparisons across the provided categories. To improve, you must ensure you complete the task by covering all data points and providing a full summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks a clear logical progression due to its incomplete nature. While there is an attempt at an 'Overall' summary, the lack of a full body paragraph structure makes it difficult to follow the development of ideas. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the abrupt ending at 'Between' prevents the establishment of any coherent flow. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use linking words such as 'furthermore', 'in contrast', or 'consequently' to connect your observations logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is somewhat repetitive and basic, such as the repeated use of 'people' and 'ate'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'increase on the percentage' (should be 'increase in') and 'escalated to once a week' (which is not a logical collocation for frequency). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. You should aim to use more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', or 'remained stable'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are several grammatical errors that hinder the clarity of the writing. For example, 'people who eats' contains a subject-verb agreement error (should be 'people who eat'), and 'said to have eaten' is awkward phrasing. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the incomplete final sentence prevents an assessment of more complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound before moving on to more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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