Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-21

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 4.5)

This chart is telling all about the people eating in fast food resturantsin the USA between 2003 and 2013.The chart gives the information that during 2003 people eating in fast food resturants everyday was greater than the peaple eating in fast food resturants in 2006 and 2013.Those people who use to eat in fast food resturant several times in week were more in common in 2006 then in 2003 and 2013. People eating in fast food resturants once in a week were greater in amount in 2006 but people eating in 2003 were also close to them but people eating in fast food resturants once in a week were smaller as compared to those in 2006 and 2003.Those people who eat in fast food resurant once or twice in a month were greatear in amount in 2013.In 2013 and 2006 there were equal percentage of people eating in fast food resturants few times in a year.There ere 5% of the people those who never eat in fast food resturants in 2003.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify several relevant comparisons, including that weekly eating peaked in 2006 and monthly eating was highest in 2013. However, the response mainly lists individual categories rather than giving a clear overview of the chart’s main pattern. Some details are inaccurate: daily eating was highest in 2003, but the statement that 5% never ate fast food is only an approximation of 4.5%; more importantly, the claim that weekly eating in 2013 was “smaller” than in both earlier years is correct, but the comparison is repeated unclearly. The figures for several-times-a-week eating and the equal 2013/2006 annual figures are broadly accurate. To strengthen the report, summarise the dominant frequencies and the main changes across the years, then support that overview with selected accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response follows the chart’s categories in a generally understandable order, and phrases such as “In 2013” help signal comparisons. However, it is presented as one long block, with no clear overview separated from supporting details. Many ideas run together in lengthy sentences, for example the discussion of weekly eating, making the comparisons difficult to follow. Repeated openings such as “Those people who…” and “people eating…” also make the progression mechanical. Organise the report into an introduction, a brief overview, and one or two detail paragraphs. Use clearer sentence boundaries and linking expressions to show contrasts between years rather than joining several observations together.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use basic vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “percentage,” “greater in amount,” and “once or twice in a month,” so the reader can usually identify the categories being discussed. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or unnatural, such as “people eating in fast food restaurants” and “were more in common.” Spelling errors—including “resturants,” “peaple,” and “greatear”—also reduce accuracy. Aim for concise chart-reporting language and use precise verbs such as “accounted for,” “rose,” “fell,” or “was highest.” Check spelling carefully and avoid repeatedly describing people when the category itself can be the subject.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect comparisons in longer sentences, and the reader can generally understand the intended meaning. However, sentence structures are limited and several sentences contain faulty or incomplete grammatical patterns. For example, “during 2003 people eating … everyday was greater” has an unclear subject and agreement, while “Those people who use to eat” uses an incorrect verb form. The sentence beginning “People eating … once in a week were greater” also lacks a clear grammatical comparison. Use straightforward structures such as “The proportion of people who ate fast food daily was highest in 2003.” Check subject–verb agreement, past-tense forms, and punctuation, and divide long sentences when they contain multiple comparisons.

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