Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The given bar graph depicts the percentage of people who ate in fast food restaurants in the USA in the years 2003, 2006, and 2013.

Overall, it is clear that the majority of people ate fast food once a week, while a smaller number of people had meals once or twice a month in a restaurant in 2006. The people in the USA who went to restaurants every day and never visited restaurants were in a minority.

The figure of people who ate fast food at restaurants every day was less than 5%, although the residents who never ate at fast food restaurants were only 5% in 2003. Additionally, the proportion was less than 5% in 2006 and 2013. Furthermore, the residents in the USA who only ate a few times a year were 13% in 2003. The proportion of individuals was 15% in 2006 and 2013. Residents who had their meal several times a week in restaurants were 17% in 2003 and the figure rose to 20% in 2006. In addition, the number of customers who ate at fast food outlets declined to 16%.

Individuals who ate at fast food chains once a week were 31% in 2003, although there was a slight rise in the number of customers, from 31% to 33% in 2006. Moreover, the figure dropped to 27% in 2013. The percentage of people in the USA who ate at fast food chains once or twice a month was 30% in 2003 and fell to 25% in 2006. After that in 2013, there was a significant increase to 33% in the number of individuals who ate at fast food restaurants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the chart and making appropriate comparisons across the years 2003, 2006, and 2013. The response includes a clear overview stating the general patterns, such as the popularity of eating fast food once a week and the minority status of daily consumers. Specific data points are accurately cited, such as the 31% in 2003 and 33% in 2006 for weekly consumers. However, there are some minor data reading inaccuracies, such as stating that those who never ate fast food were 'only 5% in 2003. Additionally, the proportion was less than 5% in 2006 and 2013' (whereas the chart shows 4.5%, 3.5%, and 3.5% respectively, making them all roughly under 5%). Overall, the content is well selected and fully relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. It begins with an appropriate introductory sentence and a well-defined overview paragraph. Ideas are grouped reasonably well by frequency categories, and cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'After that' are used to connect sentences and paragraphs effectively. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, with distinct sections for the overview and the detailed breakdown of frequencies. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and referencing could be smoother in places, which keeps the score at a solid band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'proportion', 'individuals', 'customers', and 'outlets'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary ('significant increase', 'declined', 'minority'). However, word choice and collocations are occasionally awkward, such as 'The figure of people' instead of 'The percentage of people' or 'The number of people'. There are also minor lexical slips, such as repeating 'residents in the USA' and 'restaurants/fast food chains'. Spelling is generally accurate, but the lexical range lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The student displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and subordinate structures successfully (e.g., 'The given bar graph depicts the percentage of people who ate in fast food restaurants...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and good control of past tense forms when discussing historical data. However, a few grammatical errors and awkward phrasing persist, such as 'had meals once or twice a month in a restaurant in 2006' (which awkwardly isolates the year) and some slight prepositional confusions. These errors do not impede communication, allowing the response to achieve a comfortable band 6.5.

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