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 percentages.
Overall, it is crystal clear that the highest ratio is for dinner in all three typical meals consumed in the United States of America, whereas the lowest proportion in three typical meals is for breakfast.
At a fleeting glance, a similarity can be seen in breakfast and snacks, which is 14%, respectively, which is followed by a slight increase in breakfast for saturated fat and added sugar to 16%, respectively, and the highest proportion consumed in the United States of America is dinner, which is 43% for sodium.
Moving further, in 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%. Lastly, only 16% of the added sugar was taken in the 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 | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies the main features of the charts, such as the dominance of dinner and the lower proportions for breakfast. However, the reporting of data is inconsistent and at times confusing. For instance, the description of sodium and added sugar is muddled, and the comparison between the three nutrients is not clearly structured. While the overview is present, the body paragraphs fail to systematically compare the nutrients across the meal types, leading to a lack of clarity. To improve, ensure that data points are grouped logically—perhaps by nutrient or by meal—to provide a more coherent summary of the information provided in the charts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression within them is weak. The use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or misused, such as 'At a fleeting glance' and 'Moving further', which do not always fit the context of a data report. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow which nutrient is being discussed in relation to which meal. The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the overall flow lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring clear topic sentences would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing. Terms like 'calibrated into percentages' and 'highest ratio is for dinner' are slightly unnatural in this context. While the student attempts to use a range of vocabulary, some collocations are inaccurate, such as 'average percentile' (which should be 'average percentage'). The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but more precise academic vocabulary related to data description would elevate the score. Focus on using more accurate terminology for describing trends and proportions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'the highest proportion in three typical meals is for breakfast' (which contradicts the data) and '14%, respectively, which is followed by...'. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is sometimes clunky. There is a reliance on basic structures, and the attempt at more complex sentences often results in minor errors. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the structure of comparative sentences to ensure they are grammatically sound and easy to follow.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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