Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-31
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 given bar graph illustrates that how often pupil lives in America goes to the fast food restaurant in the time period 2003 to 2014.
Mostly people ate fast food once a week and once or twice a month. And about 30 percent of people were there. The figures of people who ate everyday and who never eat were the least and same as about 5 percent.
The population of the people who ate everyday and who never take fast food at restaurants were more in 2003 and then in 2006 and 2013 year it became less and constant. Persons that took fast food a few times a year are in less proportion in 2003 but then in the year of 2006 and 2013 their proportion increases from 12 percent to 15 percent.
Humans which ate junk food several times a week at restaurants were fluctuating as it was at 15 percent in 2003 then it went to 20 percent in the year 2006 after that it came at same as in 2003 in the latest of 2013. The amount of pupil who ate once a week and once or twice a month were the highest and also fluctuating in every year but remains the superior in each year.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a general overview of the data, but it lacks precision and fails to highlight the most significant trends effectively. While you identify the categories, the descriptions are often vague (e.g., 'the figures... were the least and same as about 5 percent'). You struggle to accurately interpret the data points, such as misidentifying the years or misinterpreting the trends for specific categories. To improve, ensure you select key features—such as the clear dominance of the 'once a week' and 'once or twice a month' categories—and support these with accurate data points from the chart. Avoid generalizations and ensure the comparison between years is mathematically precise.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical or misused, such as the transition 'And about 30 percent' at the start of a sentence. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which category is being discussed. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' 'Conversely') to connect your sentences and paragraphs more logically. Ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as grouping similar trends together rather than jumping between categories.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic terms like 'people,' 'ate,' and 'restaurants.' There are several instances of inappropriate word choice, such as using 'pupil' to refer to adults or 'humans' to refer to survey respondents. These errors occasionally hinder the clarity of the report. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data analysis, such as 'proportion,' 'percentage,' 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' and 'accounted for.' Avoid informal or inaccurate terminology and focus on using words that accurately describe statistical trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'pupil lives in America goes'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward sentence structures (e.g., 'The figures of people who ate everyday and who never eat were the least'). While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that tenses are consistent when describing past data. Proofreading for basic errors like 'everyday' versus 'every day' will also significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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