Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-20
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 information about the average proportion in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much is demonstrated by circular charts.
Overall, it is crystal clear that the highest ratio of sodium in dinner. However, the least was about sodium in breakfast.
To begin with, the highest percentage of sodium in dinner was 43%. In addition, 43% of sodium in dinner was followed by added sugar in snacks at 42%. Surprisingly, the similar percentage of saturated fat and added sugar in breakfast was 16%. Furthermore, 29% of sodium in lunch, which was 15% more than the breakfast.
Moving towards the rest of the information, the percentile of added sugar in breakfast and dinner was 19% and 23%. Eventually, the rate of saturated fat in lunch, snacks and dinner was 21%, 26% and 37%, respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features and included data, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a cohesive overview that synthesizes the trends effectively. The description of the data is occasionally repetitive, and the failure to reach the minimum length means the task is not fully addressed. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive summary of the trends and comparisons, and always aim to exceed the 150-word threshold to allow for full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression between sentences is sometimes disjointed. For example, the transition 'Moving towards the rest of the information' is a bit clunky. While you use some cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'Furthermore', the flow is occasionally mechanical. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your sentences connect more naturally to one another to create a smoother narrative flow throughout the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'highest' and 'percentage'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'the percentile of added sugar', where 'proportion' or 'percentage' would be more accurate. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'a significant proportion', and ensure your word choices are contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'the highest ratio of sodium in dinner' is a sentence fragment missing a verb. Additionally, 'which was 15% more than the breakfast' is grammatically incomplete. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. To improve, focus on ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and proofread your work to correct basic errors in sentence construction and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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