Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-01
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 bar chart illustrates the proportion of people consuming more fast food in restaurants of United States between 2003 and 2013.
Overall, individuals who ate once a week and twice a month have higher number of people eating fast food than the pepole often eaten daily or even the individual who ate once a year .
On the one hand, 4% residents who eaten daily fast in 2003, but in 2006 and 2013 number of people declined by 1%. Several time a week people had a third largest porportion consuming fast food around 20% in 2006 which is higher than the past and currently. But if we see at the people which never eaten fast food holds 5% and in recent years the number dropped by 1%.
On the other hand, the residents who ate fast food in 7 and 30 days have a highest number than all others. Approixmately 33% eaten fast food consumed by these two catogeries.
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 covers the main features of the chart, such as the dominance of the 'once a week' and 'once or twice a month' categories. However, the reporting of data is often inaccurate or confusing. For example, the claim that 33% of people ate fast food in '7 and 30 days' is not clearly supported by the visual data, and the description of trends is imprecise. The overview is present but lacks clarity due to grammatical issues. To improve, ensure that data points are cited accurately and that the overview highlights the most significant trends rather than listing individual categories in a confusing manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused. Phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' are used to contrast the data, but the logical progression within the paragraphs is weak. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track which category is being discussed. Improving the flow between sentences by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic terms. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word-choice errors, such as 'pepole often eaten daily' and 'third largest porportion'. Spelling errors like 'Approixmately' and 'catogeries' are also present. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precision and the frequent errors in collocation prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'accounted for', and proofread carefully for spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with verb tenses ('residents who eaten', 'people often eaten'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack necessary articles and prepositions. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty, leading to a lack of clarity. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, particularly the use of past tense for reporting data, and ensure that subjects and verbs agree. Reducing the number of errors in simple sentences should be the priority before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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