Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-14
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)
These charts illustrate the three different meals with three different types of nutrients and these charts also illustrate their average percentages of the meals . Maybe these are unhealthy if they are eaten too much .
In the USA, sodium containing foods just like breakfast,dinner, lunch ,snacks are very common. So, 14% of snacks is eaten in the USA. However, 29% of lunch is eaten in the USA which may be harmful for the individuals life. Moreover, people eat 43% of dinner in the USA which is made up of sodium.It is very dangerous for their health.
However, in the USA,the meals which contain saturated fat are also very common. So,the snacks which contain saturated fat in their ingredients are about 21%. Moreover, the breakfasts which contain saturated fat in their ingredients are less harmful for their health .Furthermore, the dinners which contain high amount of saturated fat in their ingredients which are very dangerous for individuals life.
So, the meals which contain sugar in their ingredients are also very common in the USA. Most of the snacks in the USA contain sugar in their ingredients .The percentage of snacks are 42%. However, the breakfasts which contain sugar in their ingredients are less harmful for individuals health . So, the percentage of breakfasts is 16%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify specific percentages, you fail to effectively compare the nutrients across the different meal types. For example, you list percentages for sodium, saturated fat, and sugar separately but do not highlight which meal is the highest or lowest contributor for each nutrient. Furthermore, the inclusion of subjective commentary, such as 'which may be harmful for the individuals life' and 'it is very dangerous for their health,' is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which requires an objective summary of data rather than personal opinion or health advice.
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 repetitive and mechanical. You rely heavily on 'Moreover,' 'Furthermore,' and 'However' to start sentences, which creates a stilted flow. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for instance, in the second paragraph, you mention '14% of snacks is eaten in the USA,' which is a misinterpretation of the data provided in the chart. The progression of ideas is logical in terms of grouping by nutrient, but the lack of varied linking words makes the writing feel disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You frequently use phrases like 'contain sugar in their ingredients' and 'very common,' which restricts the range of your writing. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise collocations. The repetition of 'in the USA' and 'in their ingredients' makes the text feel monotonous. To improve, you should aim to use synonyms and more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'account for,' 'constitute,' 'the highest proportion,' or 'a significant minority.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. For example, 'The percentage of snacks are 42%' contains a subject-verb agreement error. You also have issues with article usage ('the individuals life' should be 'an individual's life') and punctuation, such as missing spaces after commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. You need to focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of possessive apostrophes to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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