Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-10
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 depict the average proportion of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in conventional meals widely eaten in the USA, all of which may be to create illness if consumed too much.
To begin with sodium, Breakfast had 14% sodium, which recorded the same amount in snacks. The highest portion of sodium was utilized in dinner. which was more than two-fifth. 29% sodium(NACL) ingested by citizen in lunch. Turning to the saturated fat, 21% and 26% saturated fat used in lunch and snacks respectively. Breakfast accounted more than one-third. which was the largest amount among to other. 16% saturated fat eaten by individual in breakfast.
Last observation of added sugar, snacks had 42% sugar, which was the biggest proportion compare to other meal. Less than one-fifth and more than one-fifth sugar recorded in lunch and dinner respectively. Breakfast stood at 16%.
Overall, the highest amount of sodium was added in the dinner. while the least proportion sugar was used in lunch.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all three nutrients and provides a summary of the main features. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you state that breakfast accounted for 'more than one-third' of saturated fat, whereas the chart shows 16%. Additionally, you mention '16% saturated fat eaten by individual in breakfast' immediately after, which contradicts your previous statement. The overview is also slightly inaccurate, as you claim the least proportion of sugar was in lunch, while the chart indicates breakfast is the lowest at 16%. To improve, ensure that data points are transcribed precisely and that comparisons are logically consistent with the visual information provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or awkward. For example, 'Last observation of added sugar' is not a standard way to introduce a paragraph. There are also issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the fragmented sentence 'The highest portion of sodium was utilized in dinner. which was more than two-fifth.' The punctuation is frequently incorrect, with periods used where commas or conjunctions are required, which disrupts the flow of information. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. You use basic phrasing such as 'utilized in' or 'accounted more than', which is not always contextually appropriate. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'to create illness' instead of 'cause health issues' or 'lead to health problems'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, it does not demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a higher band. Focusing on topic-specific collocations related to data description would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies on a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Breakfast had 14% sodium, which recorded the same amount'), incorrect preposition usage, and sentence fragments (e.g., 'which was more than two-fifth'). Punctuation is a major weakness, particularly the misuse of full stops to separate dependent clauses from main clauses. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the overall accuracy score. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction and punctuation before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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