HealthTwo-part
IELTS Essay: Why Do People Eat More Fast Food, and What Problems Does It Cause? (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
In many countries, people are eating more fast food than ever before. Why is this happening, and what problems does it cause?
How to approach a Two-part question
A two-part question contains two direct questions; you must answer both, and roughly equally. Plan one body paragraph per question so neither is neglected — writing 200 words on the first part and 50 on the second is a common way to lose Task Response marks even when the English is strong.
The plan
- 01Introduction — paraphrase the trend and signal you will answer both parts
- 02Body 1 — why it is happening: convenience, cost, marketing, busy lifestyles
- 03Body 2 — the problems it causes: health, healthcare costs, decline of home cooking
- 04Conclusion — summarise the main reason and the main problem
Band 9 model answer
Fast food has never been more popular, with consumption rising steadily across much of the world. This essay will first explore why this is happening before examining the significant problems the trend creates.
The primary reason is convenience. Modern lifestyles are increasingly hurried, and for people juggling long working hours with family commitments, a meal that is cheap, quick, and requires no preparation is enormously appealing. Aggressive marketing reinforces this: fast-food chains spend heavily on advertising aimed at children and busy adults alike, while the sheer availability of outlets on almost every high street makes the option difficult to avoid. In short, fast food succeeds because it fits, cheaply and effortlessly, into lives with little time to spare.
The problems this creates, however, are serious. Diets high in fast food, which is typically loaded with salt, sugar, and saturated fat, are a major driver of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, placing an enormous and growing burden on public healthcare systems. Beyond physical health, the trend is eroding the tradition of home cooking, so cooking skills and the social ritual of sharing a prepared meal are gradually being lost — a cultural cost that is harder to measure but no less real.
In conclusion, the rise of fast food is driven chiefly by its convenience and relentless marketing in time-poor societies, and its consequences — from worsening public health to the decline of home cooking — are considerable. Reversing the trend will require both individual awareness and coordinated public-health action.
The same question at Band 6.5
These days, people are eating more fast food than before in many countries. In this essay, I will explain the reasons for this and also discuss the problems that it causes.
There are some reasons why people eat more fast food. The main reason is that fast food is very convenient. People are very busy nowadays and they don't have enough time to cook at home, so they prefer to buy fast food because it is quick and easy. Another reason is that fast food is cheap, so many people can afford it. Also, there are a lot of advertisements for fast food on TV and the internet.
However, eating too much fast food causes many problems. The biggest problem is health. Fast food has a lot of fat, sugar and salt, so it can make people fat and cause diseases like heart problems and diabetes. This is bad for people and also for the government because they have to spend more money on hospitals. In addition, people are forgetting how to cook healthy food at home.
In conclusion, people eat more fast food because it is convenient and cheap, but it causes health problems and other issues. I think people should try to eat fast food less and cook healthy food at home.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Answers both parts fully and in balance, developing each reason and each problem with explanation rather than assertion. | Answers both parts and stays on topic, but the reasons and problems are stated simply and developed only briefly. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Clear signposting of the two parts and fluent within-paragraph cohesion ('In short', 'Beyond physical health', 'however'). | Well organised into the two parts, but linking is basic ('The main reason', 'Also', 'In addition') and ideas are listed. |
| Lexical Resource | Precise and varied ('time-poor societies', 'saturated fat', 'a burden on healthcare systems', 'social ritual'). | Simple and repetitive ('very convenient', 'a lot of', 'bad for'); adequate but limited range. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | A range of complex structures used with precision. | Mostly simple sentences; accurate but with little grammatical variety. |
Examiner's note
Both essays correctly answer both parts of the question — the fundamental requirement for a two-part prompt — so both are on task. The difference is depth and language: the Band 9 develops each reason and problem and uses precise vocabulary, while the Band 6.5 states its points plainly with everyday words and simple sentences. For this type, the priority is to develop each idea fully and lift the vocabulary, not to add more points.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| time-poor | having very little free time |
| convenience | the quality of being easy and quick to use |
| saturated fat | a type of fat linked to health problems |
| a burden on healthcare | a heavy cost or strain on the health system |
| obesity | the condition of being very overweight |
| to erode | to gradually wear away or weaken |
| a social ritual | a shared, habitual social activity |
| relentless marketing | constant, aggressive advertising |
| coordinated action | action taken together in an organised way |
Frequently asked questions
How do I answer a two-part IELTS question?
Answer both questions directly and give them roughly equal attention — usually one body paragraph each. The most common mistake is neglecting the second part; plan your essay so both questions are fully addressed before you start writing.
Is a two-part question the same as a problem-solution essay?
Not quite. A problem-solution essay asks for causes and solutions specifically, whereas a two-part question can pair any two questions (for example 'why?' and 'what problems?', or 'why?' and 'is it positive or negative?'). Read the exact wording and answer precisely what is asked.
Do I need to give my opinion in a two-part question?
Only if the question asks for it. Many two-part questions ('why is this happening and what problems does it cause?') are analytical and do not require a personal opinion. Answer exactly what each part asks — adding an unrequested opinion wastes words.