Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The bar chart illustrates how often individuals ate in fast food restaurants in the USA over a period of ten years from 2003 to 2013.
Overall, during the years the highest percentage was observed in the category of once a week and once a week or twice a month whereas everyday and never categories had the lowest percentages.
Everyday category had the lowest proportion in each year at 4%, 2.5% and 2.5% in 2003, 2006 and 2013 respectively. Similarly, individuals who never visited restaurants were at 5%, 4% and 4% in 2003, 2006 and 2013 respectively. In the USA, people who ate in fast food restaurant observed different trend in years with 2003 only having 12.5% and both 2006 and 2013 had 15%.
The category several times a week had the highest proportion in 2006 at 20% whereas in 2003 only 17% and in 2013 only 16% individuals visited restaurants. Furthermore, people visiting fast food chains in 2006 had the highest percentage at 32.5% whereas 2013 had the lowest percentage at 27.5%. People who visit restaurants once or twice a month in 2013 had the highest proportion at 32.5% whereas the lowest was observed in 2006 at 25%
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart and makes relevant comparisons. However, the overview is slightly confusing; you mention 'once a week and once a week or twice a month' as the highest categories, but the chart labels are 'once a week' and 'once or twice a month'. Additionally, the data reporting is occasionally inaccurate or unclear, such as the sentence 'people who ate in fast food restaurant observed different trend in years', which lacks specific context. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly identifies the most significant trends and that data points are cited with precise reference to the categories provided in the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'similarly', and 'furthermore'. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. For example, the final paragraph jumps between categories and years in a way that makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison. Using more varied linking phrases and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would improve the overall coherence and progression of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the data points and trends. You use some relevant terms like 'proportion', 'category', and 'illustrates'. However, there is a lack of variety, and some phrasing is repetitive. For instance, you frequently use 'highest percentage' and 'lowest percentage'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations related to data description, such as 'the most significant figure', 'a marginal proportion', or 'a downward trend'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('Everyday category had the lowest proportion') and issues with subject-verb agreement ('people who visit restaurants... had the highest proportion'). There are also some awkward phrasings that affect the naturalness of the writing. To improve, focus on consistent use of articles and ensure that your verb tenses remain consistent when describing historical data. Proofreading for small errors in pluralization and prepositions will also help increase your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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