Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-11

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 chart illustrates the 3 types of nutrient ratios that are probably harmful for health if consumed excessive.

The overall pie chart elaborates the average ratio of 3 nutrients like sodium, saturated fats and sugars in daily foods in times of Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch and Dinner which are eaten by pupils in America.

The ratio of sodium and saturated fat nutrients is prominently high at dinner times like 43%, 37% respectvaly. While less added sugar is used at dinner time. At lunchtime, sodium and saturated fats are consumed at 29% and 26%, respectively. On the other hand, only 19% less added sugar is used at lunchtime. At breakfast time, sodium is used at 14%, while it remains constant for saturated fat and added sugar, at 16%. Snacks time sodium and saturated fats are consumed at 14% and 21% while in the case of added sugar, their ratio is overall high, at 42%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying key trends such as the high sodium and saturated fat content at dinner and the high sugar content in snacks. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing percentages rather than synthesizing the data effectively. The overview is present but could be more analytical by highlighting the most significant contrast between the meals. Some data points are slightly confusing, such as the statement 'only 19% less added sugar is used at lunchtime,' which is unclear in relation to the provided charts. Overall, the response addresses the requirements but lacks the depth of comparison needed for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, though the structure is somewhat repetitive. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'While,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In the case of,' but they are sometimes used in a mechanical or slightly awkward way. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from an overview to specific meal comparisons. However, the flow between sentences could be improved to avoid the feeling of a list of statistics. Paragraphing is present, but the introduction and body paragraphs are quite short, which limits the development of a cohesive argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'illustrates,' 'nutrients,' and 'consumed.' However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'in times of Breakfast' and 'Snacks time.' The word 'respectvaly' contains a spelling error. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying heavily on repeating the same structures and terms. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and a wider variety of reporting verbs and descriptive adjectives to avoid repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'consumed excessive' (should be 'excessively'), '3 types of nutrient ratios' (awkward phrasing), and 'their ratio is overall high' (referring to sugar). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often simplistic. While the errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are frequent enough to indicate a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms. Improving subject-verb agreement and adverb usage would be beneficial.

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

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