Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The given bar graph illustrates the information about the people who love to ate in fast food restaurants in between 2003 and 2013 .

At the onset , it is evident that the graph shows a fluctuated trend .Between 2003 and 2013 it reached in its peak level .

Turning to the details, people who ate every day was below the 5% as same as people who never ate in a restaurant . Individuals who ate a few time a year was recorded 15% in 2006 and 2013 whereas , in 2003 the ratio reached 14% . Meanwhile , the ratio of people was recorded 20%,17%,16% in 2006 ,2003 and 2013 who visited restaurants several times a week .

Moving further , individuals like to went in fast food restaurants was above the 30% in year 2003 and 2006 but in 2013 it decreased almost 2% . Whereas , people who prefer fast food restaurants once or twice a month was accounted 30% in 2003 , 25% in 2006 and 34% in 2013 .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by summarizing the main features of the chart. However, the overview is weak; stating that the graph shows a 'fluctuated trend' is vague and does not highlight the most significant trends or differences across the categories. While you have selected some data points, the reporting is inconsistent and lacks a clear comparison between the categories. For instance, you mention specific percentages for different years but fail to synthesize this information into a cohesive summary of the overall patterns, such as which frequency was most or least common throughout the period. To improve, ensure you identify the most prominent trends and group data logically rather than listing figures chronologically.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Meanwhile' and 'Moving further', the transitions between sentences are occasionally abrupt. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track which data points belong to which category. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data, rather than simply listing statistics in a sequence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'people who love to ate' and 'individuals like to went'. These errors in word choice and collocation occasionally distract the reader. You rely on basic verbs like 'recorded' and 'accounted'. To improve, aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'constituted', 'represented', or 'fluctuated', and ensure that your verb forms are grammatically correct when describing trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with verb tense and structure. Examples include 'people who love to ate' (should be 'love to eat'), 'reached in its peak level' (should be 'reached its peak'), and 'individuals like to went' (should be 'individuals who liked to go'). These errors are persistent and occasionally impede the flow of the text. While you attempt some complex sentence structures, they are often marred by these inaccuracies. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of infinitives and past tense forms when reporting data.

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

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