Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-28

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)

The bar chart illustrates the percentages how people in the USA ate in fast food restaurants in 2003, 2006 and 2013. Overall, it can be clearly seen all categories are increased and all categories are decreased.

At the beginning of the period, in 2013, the consumed fast food at restaurants everyday was 4%. then the several times a week was increased sharply 16%. after that once a week was rapidly increased in addition the off once or twice a month was leveled off that the percentages of afew times a year was dramatically declined and it was also never droped approximately 5%.

However, in 2006 and 2013 everyday was 3% . several times a week both was rose significantly around 20 to 16%. than dual once a week was increased 33% and 28%. after that once or twice a month 25% and 33% in addition there was decreased rapidly around 15% while never was 4% faat food consuming in the USA.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the chart’s subject and mention several relevant categories, but the report does not accurately or clearly summarise the main features. The overview, “all categories are increased and all categories are decreased,” is contradictory and does not identify the key pattern: weekly dining was most common in 2003 and 2006, while monthly dining became the most common frequency in 2013. The account also begins “in 2013” while calling it the beginning of the period, and several figures or trends are misreported or unclear—for example, the 2013 daily figure is given as 4%, and the changes in weekly and monthly visits are difficult to follow. To improve, give a clear overview and compare the three years using accurate, selected figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is an attempt to organise the response with an opening, an overview, and a further paragraph, and words such as “Overall,” “However,” and “after that” show an effort to connect ideas. However, the information is not arranged in a clear progression: the first detail paragraph starts with 2013 but calls it the beginning, then the next paragraph jumps between 2006 and 2013. The repeated sequencing phrases do not clarify the comparisons, and references such as “dual once a week” and “it” are difficult to interpret. Group the data by meaningful patterns—for example, frequent visits versus monthly or occasional visits—and use clear year-by-year comparisons. This would make the report easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentages,” “categories,” “increased,” and “declined,” so the reader can recognise that you are describing chart data. However, the range is limited and several choices or combinations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “the consumed fast food,” “was leveled off that,” and “dual once a week.” Repetition of “increased” and “after that” also limits precision. Spelling errors such as “droped” and “afew” further reduce control. Aim for accurate trend language and collocations, such as “accounted for,” “rose to,” “fell to,” and “remained stable,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple statements and longer sentences, but control is weak and errors frequently make relationships between figures difficult to understand. Examples include “the percentages how people…ate,” “all categories are increased,” and “several times a week was increased sharply 16%,” where sentence structure and verb forms are faulty. Tense use is also inconsistent: “At the beginning of the period, in 2013” conflicts with the chart’s chronology, and the report shifts between past and present forms. Punctuation and sentence boundaries are often unclear, particularly in the long sequences beginning “then” and “after that.” Practise complete comparative sentences with consistent past tense, such as “The proportion eating weekly fell from 33% in 2006 to 28% in 2013.”

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