Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-12
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 chart illustrates the amount of three nutrients consumed during the meals such as breakfast, dinner, lunch and snacks by the average people in the USA, which can also be harmful if consumed a lot.
Overall, it clearly shows that the intake of all three ingredeants is significantly low during the first meal of the day. Whereas it is high during dinner with an exception of added sugar.
The average person in the USA consumes 43% of sodium, 37% of saturated fat and 23% of added sugar during dinner. Breakfast is the only category where all three nutrients are consumed in moderation around 14% to 16%, respectively. The most harmful of all the added sugar is eaten by snacks which amounts to 42%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. While the main features are identified, the analysis is underdeveloped due to the brevity. The response covers the three nutrients and the four meal categories, but the lack of sufficient detail and the failure to reach the required length mean the task is only partially addressed. To improve, you must expand on the data by providing more detailed comparisons between the categories and ensuring the response meets the length requirement to fully develop your points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from a general summary to specific data points. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and mechanical. For instance, the transition 'Whereas it is high during dinner' is grammatically awkward as a sentence starter. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. There are some spelling errors, such as 'ingredeants' instead of 'ingredients'. The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'consumed' and 'eaten'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'proportion', and ensure accurate spelling throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical issues. For example, 'the average people' should be 'the average person' or 'average people'. The phrase 'with an exception of added sugar' is slightly unnatural; 'with the exception of' would be more accurate. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and phrasing errors that occasionally hinder the flow. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for minor grammatical slips would help improve this score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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