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 chart illustrates the average rate of three nutrients - sodium,saturated fat and added sugar- found in standard meals in the USA that can be harmful if taken more than a limit.
Overall,dinner shows a high ratio of two of three nutrients whilst the third one reveals that added sugar is added on high scale in snacks while the breakfast shows the least rate of all three nutrients however sodium keep the average ratio same in both breakfast and snacks.
The amount of sodium in the meals consumed by average residents pf USA is maximum from all other nutrients that show a significant number of 43% in the dinner whilst 37% of saturated fats are present in the dinner however it shows a fall in the amount of added sugar by 23%.The percentage ratio of added sugar is highest in snacks whereas the content of sodium is least in snacks meanwhile it shows the 21% of fats, at the same time the content of sodium and fats are almost same in ratio and shows a slight fall in the amount of added sugar simultaneously the minimum content is shown in breakfast.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the charts, such as the high levels of nutrients in dinner and the specific trends for added sugar in snacks. However, the report lacks clarity in its presentation of data. For instance, the phrase 'sodium keep the average ratio same in both breakfast and snacks' is factually confusing based on the provided charts. Additionally, the description of the data in the final paragraph is somewhat repetitive and lacks precise comparisons. To improve, ensure that you clearly distinguish between the three nutrients and their specific percentages across all four meal categories, rather than grouping them in a way that obscures the individual data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into an introduction and two body paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the flow of ideas is often hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of clear cohesive devices. For example, the transition 'at the same time the content of sodium and fats are almost same in ratio' is clunky and makes the relationship between the data points difficult to follow. The use of linking words is somewhat mechanical, and some sentences are overly long and convoluted, which disrupts the progression of information. More varied and precise cohesive devices would help connect your ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'high ratio' and 'least rate' repeatedly. There are also some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'taken more than a limit' instead of 'consumed in excess' or 'recommended daily intake'. While your meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and you rely on simple descriptors rather than more academic or precise terminology suitable for describing statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in dinner' instead of 'in the dinner'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'sodium keep'), and awkward sentence construction. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and periods. While you attempt to use complex sentences, they are often marred by errors that affect the clarity of your comparisons. Focusing on sentence structure and ensuring subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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