Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-25
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 chart shows the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients .These nutrients are harmful for health if they are eaten too much in the routine life.
These nutrients include Sodium ,Saturated fat and Added sugar. The proportion of these nutrients consumed on the daily bases three times regularly. In the breakfast meal, Sodium contains 14%, Saturated fat 16% and Added sugar 23% respectively. While in the lunch time the nutrients consumed as sodium 29% ,saturated fat 26% and added sugar 19% .
Now, the people of USA spend most of their time in the dinner as it is compulsory to have the meals regularly . In the dinner the amount of nutrients consumed , as sodium 43% ,saturated fat 37% and added sugar 23% respectively and containing the most of the proportion consumed in the meals.
There are some modern styles of having snacks .The people from the USA having it in proper way . This meal contains the less amount of sodium 14%, saturated fat 21% and most of the percentage of added sugar 42% .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the three nutrients and their percentages across the four meal categories. However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. While you mention the percentages, you miss the opportunity to highlight the most significant trends, such as the fact that dinner is the highest source for sodium and saturated fat, while snacks are the primary source for added sugar. The overview is missing; a summary paragraph highlighting these key trends would have significantly improved the score. The inclusion of irrelevant commentary about the 'compulsory' nature of dinner in the USA is not supported by the data and should be avoided in Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Now, the people of USA spend most of their time in the dinner' is awkward and does not logically connect to the previous paragraph. Referencing is also inconsistent, and the flow between sentences feels disjointed. To improve, focus on using linking words like 'conversely', 'in contrast', or 'furthermore' to show the relationship between the data points rather than just listing them.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely heavily on repetitive phrasing such as 'nutrients consumed' and 'the amount of'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'in the routine life' and 'having it in proper way'. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited to basic terms. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied reporting verbs and nouns, such as 'account for', 'constitute', 'proportion', or 'intake'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede readability. For instance, 'The proportion of these nutrients consumed on the daily bases three times regularly' is grammatically incomplete and confusing. There are also issues with article usage ('in the lunch time') and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is usually understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic sentence construction and ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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