Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-07

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 illustrates the average proportions of Sodium, Saturated fat, and added sugar consumed in four typical meals in the USA. The data is measured in percentage.

At the hit of the nail, it is clearly seen that , dinner makes up the maximum percentage of Sodium meals at 43 percent, followed by lunch at 29 percent. While breakfast and snacks each account for just 14 percent. A similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat, with dinner representing the highest percentage at 37 percent, Whereas lunch contributes 26 percent and snacks 21 percent. Breakfast contains the lowest amount at 16 percent.

Another remarkable feature is that, the distribution of added sugar differs from the other two nutrients. Snacks contain by far the highest proportion at 42 percent, which is more than twice of lunch. Dinner accounts for 23 percent, whereas breakfast has the lowest percentage at only 16 percent.

In epilogue, dinner contains the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks account for the largest percentage of added sugar . In contrast, breakfast contributes the smallest share of all three nutrients.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have successfully identified the main features of the three nutrients across the four meal types and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that snacks are the primary source of added sugar while dinner dominates sodium and saturated fat. The overview is clear and effectively highlights the key trends. The data is accurately reported, and the structure allows for a logical comparison between the categories. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview is more distinct from the body paragraphs, perhaps by placing it immediately after the introduction to provide a clearer summary of the overall trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific nutrient or comparison, which helps the reader follow the analysis. You use cohesive devices such as 'while,' 'whereas,' and 'in contrast' to link ideas effectively. However, some transitions are slightly awkward or non-standard, such as 'At the hit of the nail' and 'In epilogue.' These phrases are not appropriate for an academic report. Improving the variety and naturalness of your linking phrases would enhance the flow and professionalism of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Terms like 'proportions,' 'contributes,' and 'distribution' are used appropriately. However, there are some issues with collocation and idiomatic usage. The phrase 'At the hit of the nail' is an incorrect attempt at an idiom, and 'In epilogue' is not suitable for a summary report. These errors slightly detract from the academic tone. To improve, focus on using standard academic signposting language and ensure that idiomatic expressions are used only when they are natural and contextually appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which allows for easy communication. There are minor punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary comma in 'seen that , dinner' and the lack of a space before the comma in the same sentence. Additionally, the subject-verb agreement in the first sentence ('The pie charts illustrates') is incorrect. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching the highest bands. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and punctuation consistency will help improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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