Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

The bar chart compares the proportions of people in the USA who ate at fast food restaurants at six different frequencies in 2003, 2006 and 2013.

Overall, eating fast food once a week or once or twice a month were by far the most common habits throughout the period, together accounting for around 60% of people in each year. It is also noticeable that the two extremes — eating fast food daily and never eating it at all — involved very small and largely unchanging minorities.

In 2003 and 2006, weekly consumption was the single most popular option, at approximately 30% and 33% respectively, but this fell to about 28% in 2013. Eating out once or twice a month followed the opposite pattern, declining from roughly 30% in 2003 to 25% in 2006 before climbing to 33% in 2013, at which point it became the leading category.

The remaining frequencies accounted for considerably fewer people. Around 16% of Americans ate fast food several times a week in 2003, peaking at 20% in 2006 before returning to a similar level in 2013. The figure for those eating it only a few times a year rose slightly from 12% to just under 15%, while fewer than 5% either ate fast food every day or never did so in any of the years surveyed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the chart, including the trends for the most popular categories and the stability of the extremes. The overview is clear and effectively synthesises the main data points. You have made relevant comparisons between the years and categories, such as noting the shift in the leading category between 2003 and 2013. The data is accurately reported, and the response fully addresses the prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the specific data. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2003 and 2006', 'The remaining frequencies', and 'while' are used naturally to link information. The paragraphing is skilful, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text, making it very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary. Phrases like 'by far the most common habits', 'largely unchanging minorities', and 'followed the opposite pattern' show a high level of control. The vocabulary is not only accurate but also sophisticated, fitting the academic tone of the task perfectly. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You use complex sentences effectively, such as 'Eating out once or twice a month followed the opposite pattern, declining from roughly 30% in 2003 to 25% in 2006 before climbing to 33% in 2013'. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your writing. The vast majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.