Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-21

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)

This pie chart depicts the mean ratio of three distinct sorts of nutrients taken in daily meals in the USA.

At a first glance, it could be observed that Sodium was the highest intake out of all three categories and that to particularly at dinner, Whereas, it was the lowest too, but for snacks.

For breakfast, all of the nutrients combined, were the lowest. Conversely, for lunch, sodium intake increased about 14% to 29% from breakfast meals, as well as, saturated fat and added sugar increased on lunch time, in comparison to breakfast.

However, for snacks sodium deteriorated to again 14%, moreover saturated fat consumption also dropped for snacks by 5 % to 21%, and added sugar spiked to 42% from 19%, from lunch to snacks.

Lastly, the dinner, was equally dominated by all of the three nutrients, sodium inclined by 29% reaching to 43% for dinner compared to snacks, and saturated fat increased by 15% to 37%, in contrast to snacks. The only difference  for dinner, was added sugar which, plunged to 23 % from 42%, from snacks time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features of the three nutrients across four meal types. You successfully highlighted key trends, such as the peak of sodium at dinner and the spike in added sugar during snacks. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, focusing heavily on listing individual percentage changes rather than synthesizing the data into a more cohesive overview. While you identified the main features, the comparison between categories could be more nuanced. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview clearly summarizes the most significant trends rather than just describing the data point-by-point. The data interpretation is generally accurate, but the presentation lacks a clear analytical focus.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often awkward or repetitive. Phrases like 'At a first glance' and 'Whereas, it was the lowest too' disrupt the flow. The transition between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression is hindered by the way data points are linked. For instance, the transition 'However, for snacks sodium deteriorated' is slightly unnatural in this context. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, rather than just moving chronologically through the meals.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'depicts', 'mean ratio', 'consumed', and 'dominated'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward collocations. For example, 'sodium deteriorated' is not the correct term for a decrease in percentage; 'decreased' or 'fell' would be more appropriate. Similarly, 'sodium inclined' is not standard usage for data trends. There are also minor issues with phrasing, such as 'at a first glance' instead of 'at a glance'. To improve, focus on using more precise verbs for describing trends and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate for academic writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar that occasionally impede clarity. For example, the sentence 'Whereas, it was the lowest too, but for snacks' is grammatically fragmented and confusing. There are also issues with comma usage, such as 'the dinner, was equally dominated', where the comma is unnecessary. Additionally, the use of 'as well as' and 'moreover' is sometimes forced, leading to awkward sentence construction. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering basic sentence structure and punctuation before attempting more complex forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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