Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-11

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 chart illustrates the frequently people in the USA ate in fast food resturants between 2003 and 2013. Overall , it is clear that in 2003, once a week had highest people, wheares in 2006, once a week had highest and every day had lowest people.In 2013, once or twince a month had highest and every day had all years with lowest people.

In 2003, every day was 4%, closely followed by several times a week was 16% of people. Once a week was highest at 31% of people, closely followed by once or twince a month was 30% of people. In 2003, once or twince a month was decreased with the never at 5% of people.

In 2006 and 2013, every day was equil demands at 3% of people, closely followed by several times had 20% people of and 16% of people in 2013. In 2006, once a week was slightly dcline with never at 4%. In 2013, once or twice a month had highest at 32%of people with decreased in never at 3% of people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad pattern that weekly dining was prominent in 2003 and 2006, while monthly dining was highest in 2013. However, the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: once a week was not the highest category in 2006—its 33% was the peak, but this is correct; the statement that every day was the lowest in all years is also broadly accurate. Several details are unclear or misreported: in 2003, “several times a week” was about 17%, not 16%, and the sentence about monthly dining decreasing “with the never” does not explain the data. You omit the important shift from weekly to monthly frequency by 2013 and give few clear comparisons across all three years. Select the main trends and report them accurately and explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs, so there is a basic attempt to organise the information. However, progression within the paragraphs is difficult to follow because categories and years are mixed together, and some links do not express a clear relationship. For example, “once or twice a month was decreased with the never” is hard to interpret, while “closely followed” is repeated for figures that are nearly equal without clarifying the comparison. The final paragraph combines several categories and years in a confusing sequence. Grouping the figures by year or by frequency pattern, then using clear comparisons such as “by contrast” and “whereas,” would make the report easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “highest,” “lowest,” “closely followed” and “decreased,” and the reader can generally identify the categories being discussed. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes obscures meaning. Phrases such as “had highest people,” “equil demands” and “decreased with the never” do not describe proportions naturally. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “resturants,” “wheares,” “twince” and “dcline.” Use precise terms for data, such as “accounted for,” “stood at” and “the proportion of people,” and check spelling carefully. Avoid repeating “people” where a percentage or proportion is the subject.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including an overview beginning “Overall” and comparisons using “whereas.” However, sentence structures are often faulty, and errors can make relationships between figures difficult to understand. For example, “once a week had highest people” lacks a clear grammatical subject and article, while “several times had 20% people of” has an incomplete construction. The sentence beginning “In 2003, once or twice a month was decreased…” also uses an unsuitable passive form and does not clearly connect its clauses. Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after full stops and an unnecessary space before the comma after “Overall.” Build complete sentences around “the percentage/proportion,” and check articles, verb forms and clause connections.

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