Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The bar graph illustrates the frequency with which Americans ate fast food between 2003 and 2013.

Overall, eating fast food once a week was the most common frequency in 2003 an 2006, whereas eating it once or twice a month was highest in 2013. Meanwhile, eating fast food every day or never doing so remained the least popular.

The figure of those eating fast food once a week stood at around 31% in 2003, rose slightly to nearly 33% in 2006, and then fell gradually to around 28% in 2013. However, monthly consumption fell from 30% to 25% before rising to approximately 33%.

Similarly, eating fast food several times a week rose from 17% to 20% before declining to approximately 16%, while those eating it a few times a year increased from 13% to 15% and remained unchanged. Moreover, daily consumption fell slightly from around 4% to nearly 3%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview of the main trends, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While the key features are identified, the analysis is somewhat brief. The comparison of data points is generally accurate, but the description of the 'never' category is missing, and the final sentence regarding 'daily consumption' is slightly underdeveloped. To improve, ensure all categories are addressed and provide a slightly more detailed analysis of the data to comfortably exceed the word count threshold.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'Meanwhile,' 'Similarly,' and 'Moreover' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is appropriate, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the information. The progression of ideas is clear, and the referencing is generally accurate. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between sentences feels even more natural and that the logical flow is maintained throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with accurate use of terms like 'illustrates,' 'frequency,' 'consumption,' and 'declining.' The range is sufficient to convey the information clearly. However, there is limited use of less common or more sophisticated vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' (e.g., 'fluctuated,' 'surged,' 'dipped') and use more precise collocations to describe the trends in the data. The current range is functional but lacks the flexibility required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate, which ensures that communication is not impeded. There is a minor error in the introduction ('2003 an 2006' should be 'and'), but this is a minor slip. The control over punctuation and sentence structure is good. To achieve a higher score, incorporate a greater variety of complex grammatical structures, such as relative clauses or participle phrases, to demonstrate more advanced control over the language.

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

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