Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The bar chart illustrates the proportion of people in USA dine out for fast food between 2003 and 2013.

overall eating fast food once a weak was the most popular frequency in all three year.

In 2003 , around 30 % of people ate fast food once a week, making it the highest category. this figure increased to just over 31% in 2006 before failing back to 27% in 2013. Once or twice a month was the second most common in 2003 and 2006 at roughly 29% nut it went down to 24% in 2013.In contrast a few times a year increased a lot from 11% in 2003 to 31% in 2013.

Several times a week went up from 16% to 19% between 2003 and 2006,then fell to 15%. The groups every day and never were always low, and they decreased slightly over the period.

To sum up American ate fast food more weekly or a few times a year in 2013.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, identifying key trends such as the popularity of eating fast food 'once a week' and the significant rise in 'a few times a year'. However, the overview is weak; it is placed in the second sentence rather than the introduction and lacks a clear summary of the most significant overall trends. While the data is generally accurate, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing figures without fully synthesizing the information to highlight the most striking contrasts or shifts over the decade. To improve, ensure the overview provides a clear, high-level summary of the main trends at the beginning of the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes awkward, such as the abrupt transition 'In contrast a few times a year increased a lot'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The concluding sentence is also quite brief and does not effectively synthesize the information presented. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect ideas more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, logical focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several spelling errors (e.g., 'weak' instead of 'week', 'failing' instead of 'falling') and minor word choice issues, such as 'nut' instead of 'but'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, relying heavily on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'went up'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms for trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a significant surge', and pay closer attention to spelling and proofreading to avoid simple errors that distract the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('American ate fast food') and punctuation (missing spaces after commas and periods). Some sentences are slightly disjointed due to these errors. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these slips prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on consistent subject-verb agreement and ensure that punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses, which will significantly improve the overall clarity and professionalism of your writing.

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