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 following pie chart illustrates the data about average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients which can be not good for health if taken more.

There are 3 chart given showing percentage of sodium, saturated fats and used sugars in typical meals taken in the USA with different time of eating.

Firstly, in breakfast sodium has amount of food with14%, saturated fat 16%% while sugar is consumed 16%. moreover in lunch sodium is used 29%,saturat fat 26% and added sugar 19%.

At snacks sodium take place with 14%, saturated fat 21% and more sugar 42% which is highest amount in snacks food. moreover in dinner sodium is consumed highest with 43%, saturated fat 37% and added sugar 23%.

overall as we can see the sodium and saturated fat is consumed more in dinner and lowest in snacks. As we can see the lunch and breakfast is average of every nutrient take among all of them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the three nutrients and their percentages across four meal categories. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main features are reported, the comparisons are basic. For instance, stating 'lunch and breakfast is average' is vague and does not effectively synthesize the data. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the data more logically and highlighting the most significant trends, such as the dominance of sodium in dinner versus the high sugar content in snacks, rather than simply listing figures for each meal.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or mechanical, such as the frequent use of 'moreover' and 'as we can see'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the transition between the body paragraphs and the conclusion. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final sentence where the comparison between meals is not fully explained. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'sodium take place with 14%' and 'used sugars', which should be 'added sugars'. The repetition of basic verbs like 'consumed' and 'used' limits the range. To improve, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'comprise', and ensure that collocations are accurate. The spelling of 'saturat' is also an error that detracts from the overall quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical errors, such as 'there are 3 chart given' (should be 'charts') and 'sodium take place' (subject-verb agreement). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and incorrect spacing around percentages (e.g., '16%%'). The lack of control over basic grammar, including pluralization and article usage, frequently impedes the clarity of the writing. Increasing the variety of sentence structures while focusing on fundamental accuracy is essential.

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

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