Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-25
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 given bar graph depicts the percentage of people who ate in fast food restaurants in the USA in the year of 2003, 2006, and 2013.
Overall, it is clear that the majority of people ate fast food once a week, while less number of people had meal once or twice a month in a restaurant in 2006. The people in the USA who went to restaurants every day and never visited hotels were in minority.
The frequency of people who ate at in fast food restaurants every day were less than 5%, although the residents who never ate at fast food restaurants were only 5% in 2003. Additionally, the average were less than 5% in 2006 and 2013. Furthermore, the residents in the USA who only ate a few times a year was 13% in 2003. The proportion of people were 15% in 2006 and 2013. Residents who had their meal several times a week in restaurants was 17% in
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response attempts to cover the main features of the chart, providing data for various categories such as those eating fast food once a week or a few times a year across the years 2003, 2006, and 2013. However, there are some inaccuracies and vague statements in reporting the data, such as claiming 'the average were less than 5% in 2006 and 2013', which is confusingly phrased and factually imprecise. Furthermore, the response trails off abruptly at the very end of the text ('Residents who had their meal several times a week in restaurants was 17% in'), failing to complete the sentence or finish the report. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, leading to a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay has a basic structure, including an introductory sentence and an overall overview paragraph. However, the logical progression is hindered by sudden shifts in focus and imprecise referencing. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'Overall', 'Additionally', 'Furthermore'), the paragraphing is underdeveloped, and the final sentence is cut off mid-thought, demonstrating a breakdown in cohesion and overall arrangement. The transition between sentences in the body paragraph lacks smooth logical flow. This aligns with Band 5.0 descriptors.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, such as 'percentage of people', 'ate in fast food restaurants', and 'residents in the USA'. There are noticeable lexical inaccuracies, including the unusual collocation 'visited hotels' when referring to fast food restaurants. Attempts to use less common vocabulary are limited, and minor errors in word choice occur. However, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the general topic, making it a solid Band 5.0 performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors and awkward agreements, such as 'less number of people had meal' (should be 'fewer people had meals') and 'the average were less than 5%' (subject-verb agreement error). Prepositional errors also occur, such as 'ate at in fast food restaurants'. Despite these errors, meaning is generally not completely obscured, but the frequency of mistakes prevents the score from reaching Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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