Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The charts below show the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The charts given below illustrate the medium proportions in meals of three types of nutrients, they may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Overall, the average percentage of sodium in dinner was 43, in saturated fat the highest was 37% of dinner. In contrast, in added sugar snacks were 42%.

In sodium, breakfast and snacks 14%, lunch have 29% while dinner was 43%. However, saturated fat contain 37% dinner, 26% lunch, 21% snacks and 16% breakfast.Furthermore, the percentage of snacks increased in added sugar which was 42% of the total. This contain 23% dinner, 19% lunch and 16% breakfast in it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several key figures accurately: dinner has the highest sodium share at 43% and saturated-fat share at 37%, while snacks lead for added sugar at 42%. You also report the remaining figures for sodium and saturated fat. However, the response only partially summarises the charts: it gives little comparison across all three nutrients and does not clearly highlight the broader pattern that dinner is highest for sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks are highest for sugar. The opening repeats the task rather than introducing the data precisely, and the overview is brief and incomplete. The response is also below the required 150 words, leaving the main features under-developed. Add a fuller overview and compare the meal categories across nutrients.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to details about sodium, saturated fat and added sugar. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. However, progression is limited because the details are presented as a sequence of figures rather than organised comparisons, and the overview does not fully prepare the reader for the later information. Linking words such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “Furthermore” are used, but some connections are awkward: “In contrast” does not clearly identify what is being contrasted, and “This” in the final sentence has an unclear reference. Group the data by the main patterns and use explicit comparisons to create a clearer progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “average percentage,” “sodium,” “saturated fat,” and “added sugar,” and the key figures are generally communicated. However, the range is limited and some word choices or combinations are unnatural, such as “medium proportions in meals” and “the highest was 37% of dinner.” “This contain” also uses an unsuitable word form and does not clearly refer to a specific category. These choices make parts of the summary less precise, even though the intended meaning is usually recoverable. Use standard reporting language such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “was highest in,” and vary the phrasing when comparing meal categories.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response uses mostly short, simple statements, with a few attempts to connect ideas, but the range of sentence structures is limited. Errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. For example, “In sodium, breakfast and snacks 14%” lacks a complete verb structure, while “lunch have 29%” has incorrect subject–verb agreement and tense. In “This contain 23% dinner,” the verb form and sentence construction are also faulty. Punctuation is inconsistent, including the missing space after “breakfast.” Build complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement, articles and prepositions when reporting percentages.

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