Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-11

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 6.0)

The presented column chart indicates how frequently people in the USA ate at fast food restaurants from the year 2003 to 2013. The data is calibrated in percentage of people.

It is conspicuous that once a week was a popular frequency in 2003 and 2006. it comprised approximately 31% in 2003, rising to 33% in 2006, before falling to around 28% in 2013. it is several times a week accounted for about 17% in 2003, increasing to 20% in 2006, and then declining slightly to 16% in 2013.

as shown in the illustration, once or twice a month experienced the most significant change. It started at approximately 30% in 2003, decreased to 24% in 2006, than increased considerably to 33% in 2013. Moreover, the few times a year rose from about 12% to 14% between 2003 and 2006, remaining at around 14% in 2013. In contrast, every day and never remained relatively low throughout the period.

Overall, it is quite evident from the graph that eating fast food once a week got the most preference in 2003 and 2006, while once or twice a month became the highest category in 2013. Furthermore, every day and never were calculated for the lowest proportion. A significant upturn/downturn in the proportion of once or twice a month was observed over the given period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all requirements of the task. You have identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your descriptions. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant shifts, such as the change in the most popular frequency from 'once a week' to 'once or twice a month'. You have made appropriate comparisons between the categories and across the years. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described with absolute precision; for instance, ensure that the distinction between 'every day' and 'never' is clearly supported by the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Moreover', and 'before falling to' to guide the reader through the data. However, there are some minor issues with mechanical cohesion and punctuation. For example, sentences often start with lowercase letters (e.g., 'it comprised', 'as shown', 'it is several times'), which disrupts the flow. Improving the consistency of paragraph transitions and ensuring standard capitalization would enhance the professional quality of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information accurately. Phrases like 'significant change', 'declining slightly', and 'remained relatively low' are appropriate for a Task 1 report. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'were calculated for the lowest proportion', which is slightly unnatural; 'accounted for the lowest proportions' would be more precise. You also included a slash in 'upturn/downturn', which should be avoided in formal writing. Overall, the vocabulary is functional and allows for clear communication of the trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent errors in punctuation and capitalization, such as starting sentences with lowercase letters. There is also a minor error in 'than increased' (should be 'then'). While you attempt complex structures, the grammatical control is inconsistent. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic mechanical errors and ensuring that verb tenses and conjunctions are used correctly to link clauses. The errors present do not impede communication, but they do limit the score.

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

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