Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-12

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 6.5)

The bar chart provided illustrates how frequently people in the USA ate in fast food restaurants from 2003 to 2013.

Overall, it is clear from the bar chart that people who ate from fast food restaurants once or twice a month and a few times a year increased throughout the period, while those who ate every day, several times a week, once a week, and never ate experienced a decline over the given period.

In addition, approximately 33% of people ate in fast food restaurants once or twice a month at the time period, which is the relatively same percentage as the 2006 category of 'once a week.' Moreover, another notable point is that the individuals who ate every day recorded the lowest percentage throughout the period.

Also, people who ate a few times a year and never ate were steady at 15% and nearly 4%, respectively between 2006 and 2013. Meanwhile, people who ate in fast food restaurants several times a week experienced a gradual decrease from 20% to about 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all the main features of the bar chart well. In the introduction and overview, the student successfully identifies the general trends, noting that the categories for eating out 'once or twice a month' and 'a few times a year' increased, while categories such as 'every day' and 'several times a week' saw a decline. Furthermore, the report selects and compares specific data points, such as highlighting that approximately 33% of people ate in fast food restaurants once or twice a month in 2003 and pointing out that individuals who ate every day recorded the lowest percentage throughout the period. The data is accurately reported with relevant comparisons, fulfilling the requirements for Task Achievement well and showing clear development of the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response has a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The student makes effective use of paragraphs, separating the introduction, the overall trend overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well to link ideas, such as 'Overall, it is clear', 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'Meanwhile'. However, there are minor awkwardness issues in referencing and phrasing, such as 'at the time period' instead of 'at the beginning of the period' or 'for that year'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, and information is sequenced logically, ensuring the reader can easily follow the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items and descriptive phrases such as 'experienced a decline', 'gradual decrease', and 'recorded the lowest percentage'. Word choice is generally appropriate, though there are minor inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'which is the relatively same percentage as the 2006 category of 'once a week''. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence structures throughout the report. Complex sentences are used with relative success, as seen in structures like 'people who ate from fast food restaurants once or twice a month and a few times a year increased throughout the period, while those who ate every day... experienced a decline'. There are some minor grammatical errors or awkward phrasings, such as 'were steady at 15% and nearly 4%, respectively between 2006 and 2013' which lacks a comma before 'between'. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.