Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-03
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 pie charts illustrate the percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugar consumed in typical meals in the USA, the units are given in percentages.
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that dinner accounted for the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat consumption, while the lowest figures were recorded for breakfast. In contrast, snacks represented the largest share of added sugar intake.
To begin with, it is evident that sodium consumption at dinner accounted for 43% of the total, whereas it was 14 percentage points higher than lunch, at 29%. Moreover, snack and dinner intake in saturated fat and added sugar had the narrowest gap, stood at 21% and 23%. Additionally, snacks and breakfast shared the same proportion of sodium intake, representing 14% each.
By contrast, added sugar consumption in snack represented
42%, therefore it was 5 percentage points higher than dinner intake in saturated fat, at 37%. Meanwhile, the largest disparity can be observed between dinner and breakfast consumption in sodium, accounted for 43% and 14%. Lastly, it is worth highlighting that snacks intake in saturated fat and added sugar was half of,
at 42% and 21%, respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features and making relevant comparisons. You successfully highlight the key trends, such as dinner being the highest for sodium and saturated fat, and snacks being the highest for added sugar. However, some descriptions are slightly confusing, such as the sentence 'snack and dinner intake in saturated fat and added sugar had the narrowest gap, stood at 21% and 23%,' which lacks clarity regarding which nutrient is being discussed. Additionally, the final sentence is mathematically confusing, as it mentions 'half of' without a clear reference point. To improve, ensure that every comparison clearly identifies the specific nutrient and category being compared.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Looking from an overall perspective,' 'To begin with,' and 'By contrast' to guide the reader. However, the progression within the second body paragraph is slightly disjointed. The transition between discussing sodium and then jumping to added sugar and saturated fat feels a bit mechanical. Furthermore, the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the connection between the percentages and the specific nutrients becomes muddled. Improving the flow between sentences would help achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportions,' 'disparity,' and 'intake' appropriately. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'snacks intake in saturated fat,' which would be more naturally phrased as 'saturated fat intake from snacks.' While you attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary, some phrasing remains slightly repetitive or imprecise. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that your vocabulary choices are consistently natural and accurate throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'whereas it was 14 percentage points higher than lunch.' There are some grammatical errors, such as 'snack and dinner intake... stood at 21% and 23%,' which lacks a subject-verb agreement or a clear structure. Additionally, the phrase 'accounted for 43% and 14%' is a dangling modifier. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on sentence construction and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound will help improve your accuracy.
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