Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-29

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 5.5)

The provided chart below depicts the information about how commonly people in USA ate fast food outside the home between 2003 and 2013.

Overall, it can be seen that highest percentage of people ate fast food in restaurants once a week in 2003 and in 2013 the higher percentage was of people who ate once a month.

firstly, it can be seen that inyear 2003 the npercntage of people who ate outside from their home was 4%everyday in 2006 this number decreased and lies at 3% , it remains same in 2013. moreover, the percentage of people who ate fast food outside the home several times in a week was 17% in 2003, this number increased in 2006 which was 20% but in 2013 it was decreased by 3%.furthermore, in 2003 their are 321% of people who ate at restaurants once a week, it was increased by 2% in 2006. furthermore, in 2013it decreased by 3%.

in addition, percentage of who are eating fast food in restaurants once or twice a month are 29% in 2003 and it was decreased in 2006 5% furthermore in 2013 it increased by3%. additionaly percentage of people who ate a fast food few time a year in 2003 was13-14%anmd ion 2006 it was 15% whivh was higher than 2003, moreover in 2016 it reamains same as 2003. lastly percentage of people who never ate outside their home are 5% in 2003 which decreased in 2006 and now 4% moreover it percentage remain same in 2013

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern that weekly dining was most common in 2003, while monthly dining became the leading category in 2013, and you cover all six frequency groups. Several figures and comparisons, however, are inaccurate or unclear: monthly dining was about 30% in 2003, not 29%; the 2013 monthly figure was 33%; and the “few times a year” figure was about 12.5% in 2003 and 15% in both 2006 and 2013, not the same as in 2003. The reference to 2016 is also incorrect. Your overview is relevant, but it would be stronger if it summarised the broader shifts across the period and the consistently low daily and never categories. Some details are less fully and accurately reported than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a sequence of details about the different frequencies. This helps the reader identify the topic and the main comparison. However, progression is weakened by the long, crowded body paragraphs and repeated connectors such as “furthermore,” “moreover,” and “in addition.” Some links are unclear—for example, “it was decreased by 3%” does not specify the year or the resulting figure. Grouping related categories into two clear body paragraphs and using comparisons to connect them would improve the flow. Check paragraph openings and sentence boundaries so that each point follows logically from the previous one.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “decreased,” “increased,” and “once or twice a month,” so the reader can generally understand the comparisons you intend to make. However, the range is limited and some expressions are repetitive or imprecise, such as “ate outside from their home” and “few time a year.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “additionaly,” “whivh,” and “reamains,” which reduce clarity and control. Aim for concise, accurate chart language and vary reporting verbs only when the meaning is precise. For example, describe a figure as “stood at” a percentage, or say it “rose to” a value rather than repeatedly calling it “this number.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with clauses, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, complex sentences are often poorly controlled, particularly where several comparisons are joined with commas: “this number increased in 2006 which was 20% but in 2013 it was decreased by 3%.” Tense and agreement also need attention, as in “inyear 2003” and “their are 321%.” Articles and sentence punctuation are inconsistent, and several sentences begin with lowercase letters or run together without clear boundaries. Practise writing one comparison per sentence, using past-tense forms consistently, and checking subject–verb agreement and punctuation before finishing.

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