Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-08
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 illustrate the proportion of percentages of sodium, saturated, fats and adding sugar in typical meals of three kind of nutrients in USA. All of these may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Overall, the first pie chart shows the average percentage of sodium in which breakfast contains 14% sodium. However, lunch contains 29% sodium which is greater than breakfast. Dinner contains 43% sodium in typical meal which is approximately consumed half sodium. In USA, almost all meals contains saturated fats and if someone eat too much then it may be harmful for health. Breakfast contain 16% saturated fats, lunch 26% and for snacks 21%. Dinner contain 37% saturated fats which is 6% lower than sodium. Every meals also contain sugar. Breakfast contain sugar as same amount as saturated fats contain.19% sugar is added in lunch and 23% sugar is added in dinner. But sugar is added in snacks as same percent as sodium. In USA, dinner contain a lot of sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the charts. You successfully highlight the highest and lowest percentages for each nutrient. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary statement that synthesizes the data effectively. The description is somewhat repetitive, listing figures rather than making meaningful comparisons between the three nutrients. To improve, focus on grouping the data more logically—for example, comparing how dinner consistently represents the highest proportion across all three categories. Additionally, ensure you accurately interpret the labels; the charts refer to 'added sugar', not just 'sugar', and the categories are 'sodium', 'saturated fat', and 'added sugar', not 'fats and adding sugar'.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into two paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive sentence structures. You rely heavily on simple sentences starting with the subject (e.g., 'Breakfast contain...', 'Dinner contain...'). While there is some attempt at cohesive devices like 'However' and 'Overall', the progression of ideas feels mechanical. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when comparing percentages across different categories. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect your sentences and paragraphs more fluidly, and avoid repeating the same sentence patterns throughout the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the word 'contain' and 'added' in ways that are not always precise. There are also some inaccuracies in terminology, such as 'adding sugar' instead of 'added sugar' and 'three kind of nutrients' instead of 'three types of nutrients'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied vocabulary related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', 'comprise', or 'the majority of'. Additionally, ensure you use the correct terminology provided in the prompt to maintain accuracy.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The pie chart illustrate', 'Breakfast contain', 'Every meals'). Pluralization is also inconsistent, such as 'three kind of nutrients' and 'Every meals'. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are persistent and affect the overall quality of the writing. You should focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and plural forms. The sentence structures are mostly simple; incorporating more complex sentences, such as using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, would help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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