Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-06

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 compares the percentage of people in the USA who ate in fast food restaurants between 2003 and 2013.

Overall, the graph illustrates that city residents in the USA mostly ate food from restaurants once a week, while there are very few people who consumed every day.

Individuals who preferred food from the restaurants once a week experienced a significant increase in percentages that is 33 in 2006, 31 in 2003 and 27 in 2013. Whereas it indicated a slight decline of those who ate once or twice a month in 2003 and 2013, additionally there was a considerable drop in 2006, that is 25% of residents. Citizens who went out for food several times a week resulted in a sharp decline, which showed 20% in 2006, 17% in 2003 and 16% in 2013.

Furthermore, people who ate in restaurants a few times a year showed similar results in 2013 and 2006, however a slight decline in 2003. Lastly, those who ate every day and never went remained relatively stable and showed little change in these years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart, providing a clear overview and supporting details. However, there are inaccuracies in the data reporting. For example, you state that the 'once a week' category was 33% in 2006, 31% in 2003, and 27% in 2013, but the chart shows these figures differently. Additionally, the description of the 'several times a week' trend as a 'sharp decline' is not fully supported by the data, which shows a more gradual change. To improve, ensure that data points are transcribed accurately from the visual aid and that comparisons are more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Whereas', 'Furthermore', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or used in a way that disrupts the flow, such as 'that is 33 in 2006' or 'that is 25% of residents'. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within the second body paragraph could be improved by better linking the data points to the trends described.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significant increase', 'slight decline', and 'relatively stable'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'city residents in the USA' (the chart refers to the general population) and 'resulted in a sharp decline' (trends do not 'result in' a decline; they 'show' or 'experience' one). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'there are very few people who consumed every day' (missing object) and 'it indicated a slight decline of those who ate once or twice a month' (awkward phrasing). Some sentences are slightly disjointed due to punctuation or word order issues. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the structure of complex sentences to avoid ambiguity.

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

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