Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-09
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 4.5)
the bar chart illustrates how frequency of eating at fast food restaurants among people in the USA from 2003 to 2013.
overall, proportion of every day people are less. once a week is highest. After that, at the end never are similar as every day.
in 2006 and 2003, are on top just over the 30 percentage once a week and once or twice a month respectively. also in 2003 of once a week and once or twice a month are similar just on 30 percentage but in 2013 they
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 90 words long. This significantly impacts the ability to fully address the task. While you have attempted to identify some trends, the analysis is incomplete and stops abruptly mid-sentence. To achieve a higher band, you must provide a comprehensive overview, select and report all key features from the chart, and ensure the response is of sufficient length to allow for a full development of the data. Currently, the response is too brief to provide a clear summary or meaningful comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response lacks a clear structure. There is no logical progression of ideas, and the paragraphing is non-existent. Cohesive devices are largely absent, making the text feel like a collection of fragmented observations rather than a cohesive report. The abrupt ending further disrupts the flow of information. To improve, you should organize your writing into clear paragraphs: an introduction, an overview of the main trends, and specific body paragraphs that group data logically. Using linking words like 'however', 'in contrast', or 'meanwhile' would help connect your ideas more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.5
The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'on top' and 'similar', which does not demonstrate the range required for higher bands. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'every day people', which is not the standard way to describe frequency categories. To improve, you should learn specific terminology for describing data, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'a significant proportion', or 'a downward trend'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs will also help you convey the data more precisely.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('proportion... are less') and sentence fragments ('in 2006 and 2003, are on top'). Many sentences lack a clear subject or verb, making them difficult to follow. The punctuation is also inconsistent. To improve, focus on constructing complete sentences with a clear subject, verb, and object. Practice using a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and pay close attention to basic grammar rules, such as using articles and prepositions correctly when referring to dates and percentages.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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