Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-06
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 given pie charts illustrates the information about the unhealthy nutrients such as sodium, saturated fats and added sugars consumed by USA citizens given in percentage.
In breakfast, Americans consumed sodium, saturated fat and added sugar which is 14%, 16% and 16% of meals respectively. In lunch, 3% more sodium is consumed than saturated fats that is 26% which is followed by 19% added sugar.
In USA, snacks contain 14% of sodium while 21% have saturated fat. Large proportion of snacks about 42% include added sugars. Dinner of American people have a huge amount of harmful compounds as 37% of meal contaminated with fats which is 6% lower than sodium while 23% of meals have added sugars.
To sum up, dinner and snacks have higher portion of dangerous nutrients whereas breakfast of USA's people include lowest amount of unhealthy products.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main features of the charts, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive overview. You have successfully selected and reported the main features, such as the high levels of added sugars in snacks and the significant nutrient content in dinner. However, the under-length nature of the response means that the development of ideas is limited. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive summary and extend your analysis of the data to meet the length requirement, which will allow for a more thorough comparison of the nutrient percentages across the four meal types.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In breakfast,' 'In lunch,' and 'To sum up,' to transition between sections. However, the flow is occasionally repetitive, and the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between sentences could be improved to create a smoother narrative. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph flows naturally into the next, rather than simply listing the data for each meal type in a mechanical fashion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You use terms like 'harmful compounds' and 'contaminated,' which are slightly inaccurate in this context; 'nutrients' or 'components' would be more appropriate. There is some repetition of basic words like 'consumed' and 'meals.' To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'account for,' 'constitute,' or 'a significant proportion.' Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetitive phrasing and demonstrate a more flexible command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The given pie charts illustrates' (subject-verb agreement) and 'dinner of American people have' (should be 'has'). Additionally, the phrasing '3% more sodium is consumed than saturated fats that is 26%' is confusing and grammatically awkward. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall clarity. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your comparative structures are logically constructed and grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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