Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-09
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 provided charts illustrate the average proportion of three nutrients which is consumed in typical meals in the USA.
In terms of proportion, in dinner the amount of both sodium and saturated fat is much higher which is considered as unhealthy in contrast, the large amount of sugar, which is noticeable in snacks. Moreover, in the breakfast has all nutrients generally in lowest figure.
In the case of dinner, sodium accounted for 43%, sugar has 23% and the saturated fat has 37% proportion. whereas the sugar contains high amount in snacks about 42% than the range of saturated fat is 21%.
At breakfast, all nutrients stood at lowest percentage contain 14% sodium same as snacks and 16% in saturated fat and sugar. In the term of lunch, sodium accounted for 29%, saturated fat consists of 26% and the range of sugar contain almost 19%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| 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 task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the charts, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a cohesive overview. You have successfully selected and reported the key data points for the four meal types, but the lack of sufficient length means the summary is underdeveloped. To improve, ensure you provide a clear, concise overview statement that highlights the most significant trends across all categories, and ensure you meet the minimum word count to allow for a more thorough exploration of the data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'In the term of lunch' or 'In the case of dinner'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between nutrients is abrupt. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases more naturally to connect your sentences and paragraphs, ensuring that the flow of information is logical and easy to follow throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'accounted for' and 'lowest figure'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'lowest percentage contain' and 'the range of sugar contain'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for reporting data, such as 'constituted', 'represented', or 'comprised', and ensure your word forms are grammatically correct in context. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs would also enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'in dinner the amount... is much higher which is considered as unhealthy in contrast, the large amount of sugar', which is a run-on sentence with poor punctuation. Additionally, there are issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'in the breakfast has all nutrients'. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and punctuation. Ensure that each sentence has a clear subject and verb, and proofread carefully to eliminate minor errors in articles and prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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