Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 chart illustrates how frequently people in the USA ate in fast food restaurants from 2003 to 2013.

Overall, the proportion of eating fast food in restaurants between the people in USA has changed through the years. The consumption once a week is the highest through the period, followed by one or twice a week. Meanwhile few times a year remained stable from 2006 to 2013. The everyday percentage remained the lowest through the time.

In the year 2003, around 32% of the individuals eat junk food once a week. The people eat one or twice a month accounted about 30%, while 17% eat several times a week. On the other hand, 5% never tried fast food.

Meanwhile, in 2006, around 34% people eat once or twice a month, while about 27% once a week as compared to 15% of people eat few times a year. Furthermore, in 2013 around 34% of the people eat meal once a week followed by 27% once or twice a month and 16% several time a week. The proportion of people who never tried fast is same as 2006, about 4%

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart’s subject and include an overview, noting that weekly eating was prominent and daily eating was the least common. However, the overview contains an important misreading: once a week was not the highest throughout, since once or twice a month led in 2013. Several figures and categories are also confused. For example, in 2006 you assign about 34% to once or twice a month, whereas the chart shows about 25%; the 34% figure belongs to once a week. In 2013, the 34% figure is for once or twice a month, not once a week. The response therefore reports some relevant features but only partially and inaccurately covers the main comparisons. Check each year-category pairing before describing trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for the years, with linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Meanwhile” and “On the other hand.” This gives the reader some organisation. However, progression is not consistently clear because the body moves from 2003 to 2006 and then 2013 without systematically comparing the same categories across years. The overview also says “followed by one or twice a week,” which does not clearly identify the category and conflicts with later comparisons. Some linking words are used mechanically rather than to show precise relationships. Grouping the figures by frequency or comparing the leading categories across all three years would create a clearer line of development and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a basic range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “accounted” and “remained,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, word choice and collocation are often imprecise or repetitive. “The proportion of eating fast food in restaurants between the people” is an awkward way to describe the data, while “people eat meal once a week” is unclear. The response also shifts between “fast food,” “junk food” and “fast,” although the chart consistently concerns fast-food restaurant visits; “never tried fast food” changes the meaning of the category “never.” Aim for accurate, consistent terms such as “the percentage who ate at fast-food restaurants” and “never ate there.” More precise phrasing would make the comparisons easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, including comparisons with “while” and “as compared to,” and the overall message can usually be understood. However, grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes make relationships between figures difficult to interpret. Examples include “between the people in USA,” “around 32% of the individuals eat,” and “34% people eat,” where articles, prepositions or verb forms are missing or unsuitable. The past-time chart is often described with the present-tense “eat,” and “the proportion … is same as 2006” lacks an article. Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention, particularly at the end of the response. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and check articles and subject–verb agreement in each sentence.

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