Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-14

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 4.0)

The bar graph provide the information how frequently people in the USA eat fast food in restaurants between 2003 to 2013. The highest percentage was in 2006 for once a week followed by 2013 for twice a month.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the topic and reports two relevant comparisons: the highest figure was for eating fast food once a week in 2006, and the monthly category was highest in 2013. These points broadly match the chart, although “twice a month” is less precise than the chart’s “once or twice a month.” However, the report omits nearly all other categories and years, gives no meaningful overview of the main patterns, and does not develop its comparisons. It is also substantially below the required 150 words, leaving the task only minimally addressed. To improve, provide a clear overview, then compare the main categories across all three years using selected figures—for example, the shift from weekly eating peaking in 2006 to monthly eating peaking in 2013.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The two sentences are connected in a sensible order: the first introduces the chart, and the second selects two headline observations. “Followed by” also signals a comparison between the reported peaks. However, the response is too brief to establish a clear overall progression or organise the information into an introduction, overview, and supporting details. The comparison is compressed, and the reader is not told how the other frequencies relate to these peaks. Develop the response in separate paragraphs: introduce the chart, summarise the main trends, and then group relevant figures by frequency or year. Use linking expressions to clarify contrasts, such as “by comparison” or “whereas,” rather than relying on a single connection.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses relevant topic vocabulary, including “percentage,” “once a week,” and “fast food,” so its basic meaning is understandable. However, the range is very limited, and some phrasing is imprecise or unnatural for describing a chart. “The bar graph provide the information” is not a natural reporting expression, while “twice a month” does not accurately reproduce the chart’s category, “once or twice a month.” A fuller report would allow you to use a wider range of accurate terms for proportions and trends, such as “accounted for,” “rose,” “declined,” and “remained stable.” Choose category labels carefully and vary your wording without changing the data’s meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response communicates its basic message through two short sentences, and the second sentence uses a comparison structure with “followed by.” However, grammatical control is weakened by the subject–verb agreement error in “The bar graph provide”; the singular subject requires “provides.” The opening also needs a more complete grammatical pattern, such as “The bar graph shows how frequently people in the USA ate at fast-food restaurants from 2003 to 2013.” The response relies on simple structures and does not demonstrate much range. Practise accurate reporting clauses and comparisons, then combine them with controlled complex sentences using “while” or “whereas” to describe differences across years.

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