Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-16

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 5.0)

The provided bar chart compares how oftenly citizen in the USA ate fast food in restaurants between 2003 nd 2013.

overall, it can be seen that in 2006 and 2013 maximum people eating at fast food restaurants whereas in 2003 minimum people are eating in fast food restaurants in USA.

Initially,it can be seen that in 2003 only 4% people are eating on daily basis. Moreover,16% are eating several times a week and 31% are eating once a week , moving ahead to once or twice only 30% people are eating. A few times a year only 13% citizens are eating in USA and 5% people are those who never eats at fastfood restaurants. Moving ahead to 2006 where 3% people are having fastfood on daily basis whereas, 20% citizens eating fast food several times a week also 33% having it once a week.

In addition to this, 25% are eating once or twice a month, moreover 15% are thore who eat few times a year and the citizens who never eat junk food are 4%. Additionally, in year 2013 the maximum are once and twice a week with 33% and 27% are those with once a week whereas, 16% are eating several times a week moving ahead with 15% eating few times a year and 4% are those who never eat and the last is 3% citizens having junk on thier every day lifestyle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to cover the main features of the chart across the three years (2003, 2006, and 2013). However, there are notable inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, the student states that in 2013 the maximum category was once and twice a week with 33%, whereas the visual data shows that 'once or twice a month' was 33%, and 'once a week' was 28% (with 33% actually occurring under 'once or twice a month' in 2013). Furthermore, the overview ('maximum people eating at fast food restaurants whereas in 2003 minimum people are eating') is vague and unconvincing. While the response addresses the prompt, the data reporting contains errors and lacks a well-developed summary of overarching trends. This places the performance firmly at Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is presented in a single, massive block of text rather than being properly divided into logical paragraphs. Although the student attempts to transition between years using phrases like 'Initially', 'Moving ahead to 2006', and 'Additionally', the lack of paragraphing severely hinders the readability and logical structure of the report. Cohesive devices are repetitive and sometimes awkward ('moving ahead with 15% eating... and the last is 3%'). There is no clear overall progression or introduction-body-conclusion structure. Because of the absence of paragraphing and mechanical referencing, this criterion warrants a Band 4.5, rounded to 5.0 based on the attempt to sequence chronological data.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is repetitive and basic. The student relies heavily on simple phrasings like 'people are eating', 'citizens are eating', and 'eating fast food'. There are also instances of awkward word formation and lexical errors, such as 'how oftenly citizen' instead of 'how frequently citizens', and informal terms like 'junk food' or 'junk'. While the names of the categories from the chart are mostly utilized, the lack of a flexible or wide range of vocabulary prevents the response from achieving higher bands. Spelling errors such as 'nd' instead of 'and' and 'thier' further restrict the score. This performance aligns with Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences are simple or clumsily joined with coordinating conjunctions and present continuous forms ('are eating', 'are having') where simple present would be more appropriate for describing general survey data. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('maximum people eating', '4% people are eating'), missing articles ('in year 2013'), and run-on sentences ('Additionally, in year 2013 the maximum are once and twice a week with 33% and 27% are those with once a week whereas...'). Punctuation is also poorly handled, with spaces before commas and periods. This density of errors places the grammar at a Band 4.5, rounded to 5.0.

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

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