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)
cambridge IELTS -> 14
• Writing Task 1
The pie charts illustrates the various proportions of nutrients consumed in USA, during different times in a day, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Overall, the percentage of sodium and saturated fat remained at peak during dinner, however this trend was changed in added sugar. The percentage of sodium consumed during breakfast and same snacks was identical, however huge difference between this similar trend was observed in Added sugar.
In terms of sodium, consumed during dinner, was observed the highest among the other time of consumption which accounted for 43%. This trend was similar in terms of breakfast and snacks which remained at 14%. The consumption of sodium during lunch was almost the half the percentage in comparison to dinner.
In terms of saturated fats, likewise sodium the huge amount of consumption was observed during dinner which accounted for 37%. It remain at 21% during snacks and for breakfast and lunch it accounted for 16% and 26% respectively. This trend somehow got reversed in terms of added sugar the highest amount was observed during snacks which accounted for 42%, the amount of added sugar in terms of dinner was exactly half the
percentage of sodium consumed during dinner in terms of breakfast and lunch are 16% and 19% accordingly. the percent
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 the main features of the charts, identifying the highest and lowest values for each nutrient. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. While you successfully highlight the peak consumption times for sodium and saturated fat, the description of added sugar is incomplete and trails off at the end of the text. Furthermore, the comparison between categories is occasionally confusing, such as the statement regarding the 'huge difference' in added sugar, which lacks specific data points to support the claim. To reach a higher band, ensure all data points are clearly presented and avoid incomplete sentences, as this prevents a fully developed overview of the information.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow of ideas is often hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For instance, the phrase 'This trend somehow got reversed' is vague and does not effectively link the data. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between the 'similar trend' and 'added sugar' is difficult to follow. The use of cohesive devices is present but often repetitive or slightly misused, which impacts the overall logical progression of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the data with terms like 'proportions', 'consumed', and 'accounted for'. However, there are instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'same snacks' instead of 'snacks' and 'huge difference between this similar trend'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on repetitive structures to describe the percentages. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase', 'decrease', and 'proportion', and ensure that your word choices are precise and contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The pie charts illustrates'), missing articles, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'was observed the highest among the other time'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the final paragraph where the text becomes fragmented and incomplete. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from achieving a higher score. Focusing on basic sentence structure and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly enhance the quality.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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