Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-25

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 given graph illustrates the frequency of eating at fast food restaurants among people in the USA in the year 2003, 2006 and 2013. The graph forms a pyramid shape which is starting with less range and then peaked in the mid years and then again decreased its range

As we compare, for everyday there were 4%people eating in 2004 also no. of people in 2006 and 2013 were equal that is 3%

Furthermore if we see the people that visiting several times a week is more like 17% in 2003, 20% in 2006 and 16% in 2013. Later there were 31% people in 2003 that visiyed fast food once a week, 33% in 2006 and 27% in 2013. For people that visited once or twice in a month is 30% that visited in 2003, 25% in 2006 and 33% in 2016

If we compare the no. of people that visited fastfood a few times in a year is less that is 13% in 2003 also 15% in 2003 and 2016. In addition the no. of people that visited never is nearly in the range of 0-5% in 2003, 2006 and 2013

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the data, but the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview. While you identified the trends, the description of the 'pyramid shape' is inaccurate as the data does not follow a consistent pyramid structure. Furthermore, there are significant factual errors regarding the years; you mention 2016, which is not present in the prompt, and you incorrectly cite 2004 instead of 2003. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe the years provided in the prompt and synthesize the data into a cohesive summary rather than listing figures for each category sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or mechanical, such as the frequent use of 'there were' and 'in addition'. The referencing is sometimes confusing, particularly when jumping between years and categories. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the lack of a concluding summary makes the overall structure feel incomplete.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic verbs like 'visited' and 'eating'. There are also inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'less range' and 'peaked in the mid years', which do not accurately describe the statistical trends. Spelling errors, such as 'visiyed', also detract from the quality of the writing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'accounted for', and ensure you proofread for basic spelling and word-form errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the no. of people that visited... is'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'is more like 17%'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences lacking proper structure. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors is high enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring consistent tense usage will help improve your score.

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

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