Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-03

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 chart presents information about how frequently people in the USA consumed fast food at restaurants during the ten-year period from 2003 to 2013.

Overall, it is clear that proportion of people who eat once a week is considerably higher than the actual figures for all the types. The people who eat fast food everyday has accounted for the smallest percentage in the given years.

Looking at the figures in more detail, in 2003, the the people eat fast food was at around 4%, in 2006, it was decline at about 2% and respectively 3% in the year 2006. The gradually change can be seen in the people who cosume fast food at several times a week, around 17% in 2003, remaining at 20% in 2006 and about 16% in 2013. Percentage of once a week has recorded highest in two years i.e; around 32% in 2003 and 33% in 2006. However, in 2013 it has fall at approximately 27%.

In 2013, comsumption of food in once or twice a month has recorded the highest percentage at around 34%. In addition, individuals who never ate fast food is at 5% in 2003, 4% in both 2006 and 2013 accordingly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and include an overview, noting that weekly eating was generally the most common pattern and daily eating the least common. Several key comparisons are also reported, including the rise in monthly eating by 2013 and the figures for eating several times a week. However, the overview is not fully accurate: once a week was not the highest category in every year, since once or twice a month led in 2013. Some figures are misreported or unclear: daily eating in 2006 was about 3%, not 2%, and the sentence then repeats 2006 instead of giving 2013. The account of “never” is also slightly high. Select the main trends more carefully and check each year against the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs of supporting details. The sequence from frequent eating categories to monthly and rare eating patterns is generally understandable, and phrases such as “Looking at the figures in more detail” and “In addition” help signal movement between points. However, the progression is weakened by unclear references and awkward links. For example, “respectively 3% in the year 2006” does not clearly identify the year intended, while “The gradually change” does not explain what comparison follows. Grouping the categories more consistently and using clear year-by-year comparisons would make the information easier to follow. Avoid connectors that imply a relationship when the data are simply being listed.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentage,” “accounted for,” and “recorded,” and the reader can generally understand the categories being compared. There is some variety in how you describe the data, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “the actual figures for all the types,” “consumption of food in once or twice a month,” and “the gradually change.” Spelling errors, including “cosume” and “comsumption,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural phrases such as “the proportion of people who ate fast food” and “the share eating once or twice a month.” Check spelling carefully and use the chart’s category labels consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the response is divided into paragraphs that make the main points identifiable. However, grammatical errors are frequent, and some sentences are difficult to interpret. Examples include “proportion of people who eat” (missing an article), “The people who eat fast food everyday has accounted” (subject–verb agreement and tense), and “in 2006, it was decline” (incorrect verb form). The long sentence beginning “in 2003, the the people eat fast food” contains repeated and missing words, making the timeline unclear. There are also problems with articles, plurals, and punctuation, such as “i.e;”. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and check each sentence for a clear subject and verb before adding detail.

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