Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-03
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 chart illustrates about the avergae percentages of sodium, saturated fats and suger in different kinds of meals that can be unhealthy if eaten in excess.
Overall dinner conatins the largest portion of sodium and saturated fats whereas snacks contains the largest portion of added sugar also the breakfast consists of the smallest portion in the all three meals.
For sodium it contains 43% in dinner that is the largest portion besides that lunch contaions it 29% and for snacks and breakfast it contains only 14% each. A similar pattren can be seen for saturated fats that a dominant contributor for this is dinner includes 37%, lunch contains 26%, snacks 21%, followed by breakfast that consist of 16% only.
The chart for the added sugar is slightly different as it has dominant percentage of lunch that is 42%, then folllowed by dinner which includes 23%, lunch participates 19% and breakfast has the smallest share 16%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the highest and lowest contributors for each nutrient. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you state that snacks contain the largest portion of added sugar, but the chart indicates snacks are 42% and lunch is 19%, yet you later contradict this by saying lunch is 42%. Additionally, you mention 'lunch participates 19%' in the sugar section, which is confusing. While you attempt to make comparisons, the data errors hinder the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure that your summary accurately reflects the visual data provided and double-check your figures before finalizing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs, which provides a basic logical structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition 'A similar pattern can be seen' is helpful, but the flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed due to grammatical errors. Paragraphing is present, but the internal cohesion within the paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly. The overall progression of ideas is clear, but the execution lacks sophistication.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several spelling errors such as 'avergae', 'suger', 'conatins', 'pattren', and 'folllowed'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable. You use some relevant topic-specific vocabulary like 'dominant contributor' and 'smallest share', which is positive. However, to reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise word choices and ensure accurate spelling. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but the lack of precision and the repeated spelling mistakes limit the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('snacks contains', 'breakfast that consist') and awkward phrasing ('The Pie chart illustrates about'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently throughout the text. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for basic grammatical slips. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will also help raise your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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