Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-29

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 5.5)

The given bar graph illustrates the proportion the frequency of USA's inhabitants' fast food eating habits over a 13-year period from 2003 to 2013.

Overall, it is readily apparent that the substantial propoortion of once a week and once or twice a month while a mere proportion has been exhibited by the citizens who never ate and who are used to eat to everyday.

To begin with, in 2003 the percentage of everyday eating consumers was only a mere 5%, with a marginal decrease it stood at approximately at about 3% after a decade. Furthermore, in 2003, at roughly 17% of the total population used to eat several times a week, with notable fluctuation, the percetage of this trends' frequency decreased by only 1% over the 10 year period. Moreover, the highest proportion of individual who ate once week fluctued marginally, from approximately 31% in 2003 to at about 28% in 2013.

In addition, 30% of total tended to eat once or twice a month, with the singificant drop among all categories, it reached at 25% in 2006, rising agian 33% by 2013. Notably, the percaentage exhibited the same with 15% in 2006 and 2013. Finally a mere amount of residents never ate fast food among all categories.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the fast food consumption data between 2003 and 2013. The response highlights key categories, such as those eating once a week or once or twice a month, and makes valid comparisons across the years. However, the overview is somewhat grammatically flawed and incomplete, stating 'the substantial propoortion of once a week and once or twice a month while a mere proportion has been exhibited by the citizens who never ate and who are used to eat to everyday.' Despite these linguistic hurdles, the essential information is presented, and key trends are identified, earning a band score of 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text is organized into logical paragraphs, starting with an introduction, moving to an overview, and then detailing specific categories in the body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Paragraphing is handled reasonably well, but the overall flow is slightly disrupted by awkward phrasing and structural repetition in the second paragraph. Referencing is mostly clear, allowing the reader to follow the progression of ideas, resulting in a band score of 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student attempts a range of vocabulary appropriate for task 1, using terms like 'proportion', 'population', 'fluctuate', and 'marginal decrease'. However, there are several spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'propoortion', 'percetage', 'trends' frequency', 'fluctued', and 'agian'. Additionally, phrasing such as 'who are used to eat to everyday' shows a lack of lexical control with collocation and word forms. While the vocabulary is adequate to communicate the main points, the frequent inaccuracies limit the score to a 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating introductory prepositional phrases and relative clauses. However, control over grammar and punctuation is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors and awkward structures, such as 'illustrates the proportion the frequency', 'at approximately at about 3%', and 'Finally a mere amount of residents never ate fast food among all categories' (missing punctuation and article issues). These errors sometimes cause difficulty for the reader and prevent the grammar score from reaching higher bands, placing it at a band 5.0.

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