Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-18
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 diagrams depict that the average ratio in typical meals of three kinds of nutrients, all of which may be dangerous if eaten too much.
After analyzing the chart, it can be seen clearly that sodium is used in same quantity in both breakfast and snacks. While, the usage of sodium in lunch is more then previous meals. In fact, in the dinner meal has more sodium than other meals.
Further, the chart illustrates that saturated fat are used in breakfast is 16%. whereas in the snack meals and lunch the saturated fat are more than breakfast. In term of dinner the saturated fat is found in more quantity.
Moreover, In the breakfast sugar is added in 16% and in the lunch sugar is used in 19%. while in the snacks the quantity of sugar is more all meals. In the night meals the sugar is in a average quantity.
Overall, it is evident that the maximum ratio of sodium is found in dinners meal while minimum percentage of sodium is found in morning meal.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the nutrients and their consumption across different meals. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the most significant trends. While the student attempts to compare the data, some descriptions are inaccurate or confusing, such as the claim that sugar is 'more all meals' in snacks or the contradictory statements regarding sodium levels. To reach a higher band, the response needs to synthesize the data more effectively rather than simply listing percentages for each meal, and ensure that comparisons are factually consistent with the provided charts.
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 often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'While, the usage of sodium...' and 'In term of dinner...' are awkward transitions. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed, making it difficult to follow the comparison between meals. To improve, the student should focus on using a wider variety of linking words more naturally and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, logical focus that connects back to the main topic.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'used', 'found', and 'quantity'. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'average ratio' instead of 'average percentage' and 'night meals' instead of 'dinner'. The student struggles with collocations, which occasionally hinders the precision of the report. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'consumption', 'significant', and 'fluctuate', and pay closer attention to word forms and collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'saturated fat are used'), article usage (e.g., 'in the snack meals'), and sentence structure (e.g., 'In fact, in the dinner meal has more sodium'). While the student attempts some complex structures, these are often faulty. The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and comma usage. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and proofreading for common errors in pluralization and articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.