Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-21

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)

illustrate the bar graph shows the information people are eat the fast food in the restaurants during 2003 and 2013.

overall, people are eaten the fast food in twice a week and twice a month frequency is the high. as compared to the several week a time and a few times a year. the noticeable low frequency ate the fast food in every day and never.

in 2003, ate the fast food in twice a month 31 percent of people and 2006 was 33 percent of people. and last 2013 was the ratio is low are 28 percent of people, are compare to the twice a month 2003 ratio of fast food was 30 percent 2006 was 25 percent and 2013 ate the fast food is 33 percent of people.

in 2003 of several time of weeks ratio was 17 percent of people but in 2006 and 2013 is almost same 16 percent of people as in contrast few times a year ratio of ate fast is the same in all years about 15 percent of people.

in everyday ratio was very in the all years was about 4 percent and in never is almost the same frequency.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to summarise the data, but the presentation is confusing and inaccurate. While you identify the main categories, the description of the trends is problematic. For example, you state that 'twice a month' was 31% in 2003, but the graph shows 'once a week' at that level. The data points are frequently misread or mislabeled, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the trends. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the legend with the bars and focus on clear, accurate reporting of the figures rather than listing them in a way that obscures the comparison.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and often misused, such as the awkward transition 'as compared to the several week a time'. The referencing is also unclear; for instance, in the third paragraph, the jump between years and percentages is difficult to follow because the sentences lack logical connectors. Improving the flow between sentences and using a wider range of linking words would significantly enhance the clarity of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic phrases like 'ratio of people' and 'ate the fast food', which are not used in a natural or precise way. There is a lack of variety in how you describe trends (e.g., 'high', 'low', 'same'). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'accounted for', or 'a significant proportion'. Currently, the word choice is often inaccurate, which hinders the overall impact of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that impede communication. Many sentences lack proper structure, such as 'illustrate the bar graph shows the information people are eat the fast food'. You struggle with verb tenses ('people are eaten', 'ate the fast food') and sentence construction. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the errors in basic subject-verb agreement and word order are persistent. Focusing on mastering simple, error-free sentences before attempting more complex structures would be a beneficial strategy for your development.

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

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