Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-29
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 compares how frequently Americans who had meals at fast food companies in three separate years, in 2003, 2006 and 2013.
Overalls people usually eat fast food once a week in 2003 and 2006, and once or twice a month in 2013. The individuals who eat fast food daily accounted for the lowest percentage in all three years.
In 2003 and 2006, 1 out of 3 people in America eat fast food once a week as their meal, then it decrease to approximately 27% in 2013. The percentage of people who eat one or two a month in 2006 dropped 5% before rising up to around 37%.
The americans had fast food as their meals several times a week wander around 15% and 20%. And a bit higher compare to those who eat fast foods as their meal a few times a year. While the percentage of people who never eat fast food is slightly higher than Americans who eat fast food as their meal everyday.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart, such as the trends for 'once a week' and 'once or twice a month'. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision. For instance, the statement '1 out of 3 people' is a rough approximation that could be more accurately stated using the provided percentages. Additionally, some comparisons are vague, such as 'wander around 15% and 20%', which is not clear academic language. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that all data points mentioned are accurate and that the overview clearly highlights the most significant trends across the entire period rather than just listing individual data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'then it decrease' is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. The use of 'Overalls' at the beginning of the second paragraph is an incorrect way to introduce an overview. While there is a logical progression from the general overview to specific details, the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the transition between ideas feel disjointed. Improving the variety and accuracy of your cohesive devices will significantly enhance the readability of your work.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'eat fast food' repeatedly throughout the text. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'fast food companies' (the chart refers to frequency of eating, not the companies themselves) and 'wander around' to describe statistical data. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'eat' (e.g., 'consume', 'frequent fast-food outlets') and use more precise language when describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a decline'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('1 out of 3 people... eat'), tense inconsistencies ('it decrease'), and awkward phrasing ('a bit higher compare to'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, and some sentences are fragmented. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing historical data. Expanding your range of complex structures while ensuring they are error-free will help you move into the higher bands.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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