Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-03

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 7.5)

Overall, weekly and monthly fast-food consumption accounted for the largest proportions of Americans throughout the period. By contrast, eating fast food every day or never doing so remained relatively uncommon. Notably, the proportion of people eating fast food once or twice a month increased considerably by 2013, while weekly consumption declined slightly.

In 2003, approximately 31% of Americans ate fast food once a week, making this the most prevalent frequency, closely followed by those who ate at such establishments once or twice a month, at 30%. The proportion consuming fast food several times a week stood at around 17%, while only 13% visited such restaurants a few times a year. Daily consumption and complete avoidance were considerably less common, accounting for approximately 4% and 5% respectively.

By 2006, weekly consumption had edged up to roughly 32%, whereas the proportion eating fast food once or twice a month fell to 25%. However, by 2013, the latter figure had climbed substantially to about 33%, becoming the most common frequency. In contrast, the proportion eating once a week declined to approximately 28%, while the figure for several-times-a-week consumption fell slightly to 16%. Meanwhile, the proportions visiting fast-food restaurants only a few times a year remained stable at around 15% in 2006 and 2013, and the figures for daily consumption and never eating fast food remained very low throughout

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and selected key data points to support your summary. The comparison between categories is well-handled, particularly the shift in the most prevalent frequency from 'once a week' to 'once or twice a month' by 2013. The data is accurately reported, and the structure allows for a logical progression of information. To reach a higher band, ensure that all minor fluctuations are clearly linked to the overall trend, but overall, this is a very strong performance that fully satisfies the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction followed by body paragraphs that group the data chronologically. The use of cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Notably', 'However', and 'Meanwhile' is effective and helps the reader navigate the information smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The flow of ideas is natural, and there is a clear progression from the general trends to the specific data points. The referencing is precise, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the comparisons made between the different years and categories.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. Phrases such as 'most prevalent frequency', 'climbed substantially', and 'remained stable' show a good command of descriptive language. The vocabulary is precise and used accurately to convey the trends in the chart. There is a conscious effort to avoid repetition by using synonyms like 'establishments' for restaurants and 'the latter figure' to refer back to previous data. The language is natural and contributes to the clarity of the report, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'while weekly consumption declined slightly'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation is excellent. You have used a variety of verb tenses correctly to describe past trends. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The sentence construction is varied and sophisticated, which reflects a high level of grammatical competence. The writing is consistently accurate throughout the entire response.

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