Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26

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 6.5)

The bar chart gives information about how often people dined at fast food restaurants in the USA from 2003 to 2013.

Overall, at the beginning of the period, people visited fast-food restaurants frequently, about once a week, but after a decade, they visited less often, once ot twice a month.

In 2003, very few people had meals at fast-food restaurants at approximately 5%, while around 18% of people visited several times a week. The proportion of people who frequently had fast food, either about once a week or once or twice a month, stood at roughly 30%. About 12% of the people rarely had fast food, a few times a year and a further less than 5% of Americans never had fast food between 2003 and 2013.

In 2006 and 2013, the percentage of people who visited fast-food restaurants daily stood at approximately 3%. The proportions of people who consumed fast food several times a week or once a week dropped from 20% to about15% and from around 30% to about 23%, respectively. By contrast, the figure for Americans who dined at fast-food resturants once or twice a month in 2006 was 25%; furthermore, it rose to approximately 32% in 2013. The percentage of individuals who savoured fast food rarely, a few times a year was identical at 15%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview. You have selected key features, such as the decline in frequent dining and the rise in monthly visits, and supported these with relevant data from the chart. However, the analysis is slightly uneven; for instance, the 2006 data is presented in detail, but the comparison between 2003 and 2013 could be more tightly integrated to highlight the shift in consumer habits more effectively. Overall, you have addressed all parts of the task and provided a clear summary of the information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on specific timeframes. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'furthermore', and 'at the beginning of the period' are used effectively to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from a general summary to specific data points. While the transition between the second and third body paragraphs is functional, the flow could be slightly smoother by using more varied linking phrases to connect the changing trends across the years.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision, using terms like 'proportion', 'figure', and 'identical'. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'ot' instead of 'or' and 'resturants' instead of 'restaurants'. Additionally, the word 'savoured' is slightly unusual in this context, as it implies enjoyment rather than just the act of eating. While the range is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise collocations related to data trends—such as 'a downward trend' or 'remained stable'—would enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your control of grammar is generally good. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are occasional slips, such as 'at approximately 5%' (which should be 'was approximately 5%') and 'a further less than 5%' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally accurate, though there are minor issues with spacing after commas and before numbers. These errors do not impede communication, and you show a good command of complex structures, such as the use of 'while' and 'respectively' to manage comparisons.

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