Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-13
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 given pair of pie charts depicts the information about the average percentile in typical meals of three types of nutrients. The data has been calibrated into a percentage.
Overall, it is crystal clear that the highest proportion of all three types of nutrients was in dinner; however, the similar ratio of nutrients was consumed in both snacks and breakfast.
At a fleeting glance, the proportion of sodium was highly consumed at dinner in the United States of America, which was 43%. However, the similar range of sodium was in snacks and breakfast around 14%, followed by a slight increase in breakfast to 16% while gradually inclining in snacks to 21%.
Moving further, at lunch almost 26% of saturated fat was consumed; however, this ratio declined in added sugar to 19%. In added sugar, 42% was in snacks in the United States of America. On the other hand, the ratio of added sugar in dinner did not surpass 23 percent. Lastly, only 16% of added sugar was taken in breakfast.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying key trends such as the high proportion of nutrients at dinner. However, the reporting of data is inconsistent and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, the description of sodium consumption is confusing, as the figures mentioned (14%, 16%, 21%) do not clearly align with the provided charts. Furthermore, the comparison between nutrients is somewhat disjointed, and the analysis of 'added sugar' lacks clarity in its presentation. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are cited precisely and that comparisons are logically structured to highlight the most significant differences rather than listing figures in isolation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moving further' and 'On the other hand', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the internal logic within the third paragraph is hampered by the confusing presentation of the data, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a distinct, well-supported point would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with attempts at using academic phrasing such as 'calibrated', 'proportion', and 'surpass'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'average percentile' (which is technically incorrect in this context) and 'gradually inclining'. While the range is sufficient to convey the main points, the lack of precision in describing statistical trends limits the score. Incorporating more precise terminology for data description would elevate the lexical quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'depicts the information about the average percentile' and 'the similar range of sodium was in snacks'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The control over punctuation and sentence structure is generally acceptable, but more attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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