Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-04
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 given pie charts illustrate the proportion in typical meals of three different type of nutrients, which may be unhealthy if eaten in plenty amount. A glance at the chart reveals that dinner had the highest intake of nutrients, which decreased significantly. While breakfast had the lowest proportion of nutrients.
Sodium intake accounted for 43% in dinner, followed by lunch at 29%. Meanwhile, lunch and snacks both stood at 14%. However, Saturated fat recorded at 37% in dinner. This is followed by lunch at 26%, whereas snacks made up to 21% and breakfast constituted of 16%, which is lowest among the others.
Furthermore, added sugar stood at 42% highest among other categories in snacks, then 23% in dinner, ranked at second. This figure showed 19% for lunch. However, breakfast stood at 16%, making it the lowest among other categories.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features and provided data for the three nutrients, the analysis is somewhat mechanical. You have successfully selected key data points, but the overview is underdeveloped. The introductory sentence is slightly inaccurate, as the charts show percentages of nutrients in meals, not the 'proportion of nutrients' themselves. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview that synthesizes the trends across all three categories rather than just listing data, and ensure you meet the minimum length requirement to allow for full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Meanwhile', and 'However' to link ideas. However, the progression between sentences is sometimes repetitive, and the use of cohesive devices feels a bit mechanical. For example, the transition between the discussion of sodium and saturated fat could be smoother. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the relationship between the data points is clearly articulated rather than just stating figures in sequence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. You use basic phrases like 'highest intake', 'lowest proportion', and 'recorded at'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'eaten in plenty amount' (should be 'in large quantities') and 'constituted of' (the verb 'constitute' does not take 'of'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'accounted for', 'comprised', or 'represented a significant portion'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'three different type of nutrients' should be 'three different types of nutrients'. Additionally, 'which is lowest among the others' is a fragmented construction. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately to improve your control over grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.