Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-28

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 chart shows how frequently the people in the USA ate in the fast food restaurants between 2003 and 2013.

This graph consist of x and y axis. The X-axis is showing the record of people who ate in the fast food restaurants Every day, several times in a week, once a week, once or twice a month, a few times a year and never. The Y-axis is showing the record of the percentage of people who ate in the restaurants of fast food in the ([redacted phone])

In 2003, The record showing 4% people ate every day, 17% ate several times a week, 31% ate once a week, 30% ate once or twice a month, 13% ate a few times a year and 5% ate never in the fast food restaurants.

In 2006, The record showing 3% people ate every day, 20% ate several times a week, 33% ate once a week, 25% ate once or twice a month, 15% ate a few times a year and 4% ate never in the fast food restaurants.

In 2013, The record showing 3% people ate every day, 16% ate several times a week, 27% ate once a week, 33% ate once or twice a month, 15% ate a few times a year and 4% ate never in the fast food restaurants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the data points for the three years provided. However, it lacks an overview or summary of the main trends, which is a requirement for a Band 7 or higher. The response is essentially a list of data points for each year rather than a synthesis of the information. To improve, you should group the data by trends (e.g., categories that increased versus those that decreased) and provide a clear opening statement that highlights the most significant changes over the decade, such as the overall stability or the shift in frequency patterns.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression is mechanical and repetitive. Each paragraph starts with a similar phrase ('In 2003, The record showing...'), which makes the writing feel formulaic. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas or compare the data between years. To improve, use transition words like 'In contrast,' 'Conversely,' or 'Meanwhile' to connect your observations and show the relationship between the different years, rather than just listing the data chronologically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'The record showing' and 'ate in the fast food restaurants,' which lacks variety. There is no attempt to use synonyms or more sophisticated vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' 'peaked,' or 'experienced a decline.' The phrasing 'the restaurants of fast food' is unnatural; 'fast food restaurants' is the standard collocation. Expanding your range of verbs and nouns related to data description is essential for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammar is generally understandable, but there are frequent errors in sentence structure and article usage. For example, 'This graph consist of x and y axis' should be 'consists of x and y axes.' There are also issues with capitalization (e.g., 'The record showing') and awkward phrasing like '5% ate never.' The sentence structures are very simple and lack the complexity required for higher bands. You should aim to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or comparative constructions, and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent.

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

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