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 chart provide information regarding the how frequently people in the USA ate in fast food restaurants between 2003 and 2013.
Overall, the bulk of frequency of eating at fast food restaurants in the year of 2006 and 2013, while 2003 received minimal attention. Notable difference exist between the nation in terms of priorities.
Firstly, with regard to once a week in 2006, this category accounted for the largest share in eating fast food, represented 33% of people. By comparison, in 2003, this category slightly smallest percentage in this area, at 31% of people. A emphasis was marginally greater than once a week people eating at fast food in 2003.
In terms of once or twice a month, in 2013 was significantly higher than 2003, comparison just 33% of people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the task. While you have attempted to identify some trends, the analysis is incomplete and lacks a clear overview of all data points provided in the chart. Several categories are omitted, and the comparisons made are often confusing or mathematically unclear, such as the reference to '33% of people' in the final paragraph without sufficient context. To improve, ensure you cover all categories shown in the chart and provide a more comprehensive summary of the main features and trends across the three years.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression of ideas is hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of clear cohesive devices. For example, the transition 'By comparison' is used, but the following sentence is grammatically disjointed, making it difficult to follow the comparison. The use of referencing is also weak; phrases like 'this category' are used repeatedly without clearly defining which specific data point is being discussed. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'conversely', 'in contrast') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'the bulk of frequency' and 'represented 33% of people', which are not natural collocations. There are also instances of word-choice errors, such as 'A emphasis was marginally greater', where 'An' should be used, and the phrasing itself is unclear. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for describing data, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs will also help you convey the trends more accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The given bar chart provide information' (subject-verb agreement error), 'regarding the how frequently' (incorrect article usage), and 'Notable difference exist' (pluralization error). The sentence structures are generally simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'represented 33% of people' (missing subject/relative pronoun). To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Proofreading for these common errors will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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