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 bar chart compares the percentage of individuals ate fast food in the USA from 2003 to 2013.

Overall, most of the people ate junk food once a week and once or twice a month. There is a very less proportion of people who ate every day in 2003, 2006 and 2013. There is also a minimal ratio who ate never during these three years.

Looking at the details, less than 5% of human beings consumed junk food everyday in all three years. Around 5% mankind ate fast food during 2003 and less than 5% in 2006 and 2013. More than 15% humans consume fastfood several times a week and on the other hand around 15% ate a few times in a year.

At the end more than 30% of mortals had fast food once a week and once or twice a week which is the highest frequency but the value can fluctuate in three years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that weekly and monthly visits were the most common, while daily eating and never eating were uncommon. However, several details are inaccurate or too general: “more than 15%” ate several times a week does not fit 2013, when the figure was about 16%, and “more than 30%” ate once a week is true only in 2003 and 2006, not 2013. You also say “once or twice a week” where the chart says “once or twice a month.” The overview would be stronger if it highlighted the shift from weekly visits being most common in 2003 and 2006 to monthly visits in 2013, supported by accurate comparisons. The response covers the task, but some key features are unclear or under-reported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs of details. This gives the reader a coherent overall route through the information. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Looking at the details,” and “At the end” help signal movement between sections, although the last phrase is not a natural way to introduce a final comparison. Some information is grouped loosely: the paragraph beginning “Around 5%” moves from daily eating to several-times-a-week and yearly eating without clearly distinguishing the categories or comparing years. Use clearer grouping, for example, discuss the low-frequency categories together and then compare the two most common frequencies. More precise references to years and categories would also make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of terms related to the topic, including “percentage,” “proportion,” “consumed,” and “frequency,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a formal chart summary. “Junk food” is less precise than “fast food,” while “human beings,” “mankind,” and “mortals” are inappropriate substitutes for “people” and make the report sound exaggerated. “A very less proportion” and “minimal ratio” are also awkward collocations. In addition, “once or twice a week” changes the chart category, which affects precision. Aim for a smaller set of accurate, neutral terms and repeat the chart’s category labels where needed; this would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, some grammatical errors reduce accuracy. In the opening, “the percentage of individuals ate fast food” needs a relative clause or a different structure, such as “the percentage of individuals who ate fast food.” Tense is inconsistent in “More than 15% humans consume,” where the past-time chart calls for “consumed,” and “a few times in a year” needs a more suitable article and preposition pattern. The final sentence also joins two categories with an unclear comparison. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build longer sentences around clear subjects and verbs; this will help you express comparisons without losing control of the grammar.

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

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