Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The bar chart illustrates how many times individuals in the United States of America consume fast food at restaurants from 2003 and 2013. Units are measured by proportion.

Overall, the majority of American people ate fast food at restaurants once a week in 2003 and 2006, few people ate it every day whereas, a little percentage have never went to restaurants to eat fast food.

To begin with, a huge number of American citizens ate fast food once a week in 2006 with more than 30% consumers. In 2003, around 30% and in 2013 under 30%. In the same years, some of them ate fast food once or twice a month. In 2003, 30% then, in 2006 it decreased to 25% and peaked in 2013 with more than 30%. There were another group of people ate junk food several times a week, which showed some fluctuation with more than 15% in 2003, it rose to 20% in 2006, and it fell to approximately 15% in 2013.

Furthermore, some of the US habitats ate fast food a few times a year, more than 10% in 2003. For, 2006 and 2013 (15% respectively). In comparison with the others amount of times that people used to consume fast food at restaurants, around 5% of them were consuming fast food everyday during the giving period. Nevertheless, between 2003, 2006 and 2013, 5% of the US population were never ate at fast food restaurants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart and provides a clear overview. You have successfully identified the key trends, such as the dominance of the 'once a week' category and the stability of the 'never' and 'every day' groups. However, the report lacks precision in data reporting. For instance, stating 'under 30%' for 2013 is vague when the chart shows a specific value. Additionally, the comparison between categories could be more analytical. To improve, ensure that all data points are accurately transcribed and that you group information logically rather than listing each category year-by-year, which can become repetitive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'In comparison' helps the flow of ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or misused, such as 'For, 2006 and 2013 (15% respectively)', which is grammatically incomplete. Referencing is generally clear, but the progression within paragraphs could be smoother if you focused more on comparing the categories rather than just listing the years for each one. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information, using terms like 'proportion', 'fluctuation', and 'peaked'. However, there are some noticeable word choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'US habitats' (instead of 'inhabitants') and 'never ate' (instead of 'had never eaten'). The repetition of 'ate fast food' could be improved by using synonyms or paraphrasing. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Focusing on accurate collocations will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include 'a little percentage have never went' (should be 'a small percentage had never gone') and 'there were another group of people ate' (should be 'there was another group of people who ate'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate better control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, and aim for more error-free complex sentences.

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

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