Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-09

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 barchart illustrates how often people in USA ate in fast food restaurants for over 10 years ([redacted phone]).

Overall, frequency of eating in fast food restaurants shifted from once a week to once or twice a month with passage of time.In 2003 and 2006, highest percentage of people eats once a week whereas, it shifted to once a week or twice a month in 2013.

Starting from 2003, around 4 percent of people used to eat from fast food restaurants everday, 17 percent several times a week, 33 percent once a week, 30 percent once or twice a month, 13 percent a few times a year and 5 percent never. This shows in 2003, most people preffered to east once a week from fast food restaurants.

In 2006, same trend was observed, 33 percent of people used to eat from fast food restaurants once a week,second highest portion was of 25 percent people who preffered to eat once or twice a month from outside.

In contrast, frequency of eating from fast food restaurants shifted from once a week to once or twice a month in 2013 with percentage of around 33 percent people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main shift from weekly eating in 2003 and 2006 toward monthly eating in 2013, which is a relevant overview. However, the overview is unclear when it says the 2013 pattern shifted to “once a week or twice a month”; once or twice a month was the leading category, at about 33%, while once a week was about 28%. Several figures are also inaccurate: in 2003, once a week was about 31%, not 33%, and in 2006, once or twice a month was about 25%, not the second-highest category overall without qualification. The response gives little account of the 2013 figures beyond the leading category and omits useful comparisons across all three years, limiting coverage and development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by paragraphs about 2003, 2006 and 2013. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is limited because the years are mostly described separately rather than compared, and the final paragraph repeats the overview’s point about the shift to monthly eating. Some linking is awkward or unclear: “In 2006, same trend was observed” does not specify which trend, while “In contrast” introduces no clear contrast with the preceding sentence. Improve cohesion by grouping related categories or changes across years and using precise links such as “By 2013” or “Meanwhile” only where the relationship is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “frequency,” and “once or twice a month,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, particularly repeated references to people who “used to eat” and “frequency of eating.” Some collocations are unnatural, such as “eat from fast food restaurants” and “eat once a week from fast food restaurants”; “eat at fast-food restaurants” is more idiomatic. Spelling errors such as “everday,” “preffered,” and “east” are noticeable, and “from outside” is vague in this context. More accurate, varied reporting language and careful proofreading would make the description clearer and more appropriate for an academic chart summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the overview sentence beginning “Overall” and the clause “whereas, it shifted…”. However, control is uneven, and errors sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. For example, “In 2003 and 2006, highest percentage of people eats” has an omitted article and incorrect verb form; “In 2006, same trend was observed” also needs an article. The sentence “This shows in 2003, most people…” has an unclear clause structure, and punctuation is inconsistent, especially missing spaces after full stops and commas. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and article use, and divide long or loosely connected sentences into clearer units while retaining some varied structures.

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

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