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 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 remained 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 the percentage

were 16% and 19% accordingly.

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 the four meal categories. You successfully highlight the peak consumption times for sodium and saturated fat (dinner) and added sugar (snacks). However, the analysis is slightly hampered by some confusing phrasing, such as the comparison of sodium levels between breakfast and snacks. While the main trends are identified, the reporting of data is occasionally imprecise, and the final paragraph suffers from a fragmented structure that makes the comparison of added sugar levels difficult to follow. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are clearly linked to their respective categories without ambiguity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific nutrients. However, the flow is occasionally disrupted by mechanical or awkward transitions. For instance, the phrase 'this trend was changed in added sugar' is somewhat vague, and the final paragraph contains a significant breakdown in cohesion where sentences appear incomplete or poorly connected. While you use some cohesive devices like 'in terms of' and 'likewise', their repetitive use makes the writing feel slightly formulaic. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences flow logically into one another would significantly enhance the coherence of your response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'nutrients', 'consumed', and 'accounted for'. However, there are instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'same snacks' instead of 'snacks' and 'huge difference between this similar trend'. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Some phrasing is repetitive, particularly the reliance on 'in terms of' to introduce new points. To improve, focus on using more varied reporting verbs and descriptive adjectives to convey the data more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The pie charts illustrates') and awkward sentence construction ('consumed during dinner, was observed the highest'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the final paragraph where the text becomes fragmented and difficult to parse. These errors do not entirely impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on basic sentence structure and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would help improve your accuracy.

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

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