Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-25

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 bar chart illustrates how frequently people in the USA ate in food restaurants between 2003 and 2013.

Overall, in 2006 and 2013 highest percentage of the people went to restaurants once a week in a month and once or twice a month yearly. The 4% of the people never went to restaurants in 2003 and 2006, 5% of the people never went to restaurant in 2003.

The bar shows the group of people who went to restaurants under certain days.

The first group of people who daily went restaurant are under 5% during in 2003, 2006 and 2013. The second group of the people who went to restaurants several times a week, are highest in 2006 with 20% as compared to other two years. The other group who went once a week to restaurant highest in 2006 with the 35% as compared to 2003 and 2013.

On the other hand, the people who went to ate at restaurant once or twice a month are highest with 35% in 2013 and lowest in 2006 with the 25% and 2003 with the 30%. the fifth group of people who went to restaurant few times a year are equal in 2006 and 2013 with the 15% and slighlty less in 2003. At the last, the group of people are who never went to restaurants are 5% in 2003 and 4% of the people in 2006 and 2013.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart’s subject and report several relevant comparisons, including the peak for weekly visits in 2006 and the rise in monthly visits to 33% in 2013. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: “once a week in a month and once or twice a month yearly” does not clearly describe the main pattern, and the claim that 4% never went in both 2003 and 2006 conflicts with the chart. Several figures are also overstated, such as 35% for weekly visits in 2006 (about 33%) and 35% for monthly visits in 2013 (about 33%). To improve, give a concise, accurate overview of the main shifts, then select and report key figures consistently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has some organisation: it begins with an introduction and overview, then discusses the frequency categories in sequence. However, progression is weakened by an unclear overview and a sentence that does not add useful information: “The bar shows the group of people who went to restaurants under certain days.” Linking phrases such as “The first group,” “The second group,” and “On the other hand” create a list-like, repetitive flow, and the final category is introduced awkwardly with “At the last.” Paragraphing also does not clearly separate the overview from the detailed comparisons. Group related categories into focused paragraphs and use precise links to show contrasts and changes across years.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough basic vocabulary to communicate the chart topic, including “percentage,” “highest,” “lowest,” and “equal.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as “group of people,” “went to restaurants,” and “under certain days.” Some collocations make the meaning difficult to follow, particularly “once a week in a month and once or twice a month yearly” and “went to ate at restaurant.” There are also spelling and word-form slips, including “slighlty.” Use a wider set of accurate chart-reporting expressions, such as “accounted for,” “the proportion who ate out,” and “rose/fell,” while checking spelling and avoiding repeated wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a few longer structures, including comparisons with “as compared to,” but sentence patterns are mostly simple and errors are frequent enough to make some statements difficult to interpret. Examples include “in 2006 and 2013 highest percentage” (missing a verb and article), “The 4% of the people never went” (faulty sentence structure), and “the people who went to ate at restaurant” (incorrect verb construction). Agreement and tense are also inconsistent, as in “the group of people are” and “who went … are highest.” Improve control by using clear subject–verb structures, consistent past tense for the years shown, and accurate articles and prepositions. Shorter, carefully checked sentences would help make comparisons clearer.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.