Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-14
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 data displays the average proportion of three distinct types of nutrients in typical meals, which might be unhelathy if consumed excessively.
Overall, sodium and saturated fat are the major components in dinners with recorded figures of 43% and 37%, while added sugar contributed as the primary nutrient in snacks with 42%. In addition, all the three various nutrients are the least abundant breakfast meals with a percentage of aprroximately 15%.
Sodium contributed with 14% in snacks and 29% in lunchs, whereas saturated fat is present with a larger amount in snacks with 21% and with 26% in lunchs. Fuerthermore, the concentration of added sugars in lunchs and dinner is 19% and 23%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the charts by reporting key nutrient percentages across meals and snacks. The student correctly identifies major components such as sodium and saturated fat in dinners (43% and 37%) and added sugar in snacks (42%). Comparisons are made between meals, and an overview is provided. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting specific details, such as stating that all three nutrients are the least abundant at breakfast with approximately 15% when the visual data varies more precisely. Furthermore, the response falls significantly below the minimum length requirement, containing only 113 words against the required 150 words. This under-length impacts the overall development and completeness of the task, restricting the band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into a basic introduction, an overview paragraph, and a body paragraph containing specific data points. There is a discernible logical sequence, utilizing cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', and 'whereas' to link ideas. However, paragraphing is somewhat underdeveloped, and the single body paragraph is rather dense and difficult to follow as it crams multiple data comparisons together. Referencing is generally clear, though the overall progression of information feels somewhat mechanical rather than naturally flowing. With better separation of ideas into distinct paragraphs and clearer referencing, cohesion would improve significantly.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'proportion', 'components', 'abundant', and 'concentration'. There are some successful attempts at less common lexical items, but also noticeable spelling and word choice errors, such as 'unhelathy' instead of unhealthy, 'breakfast meals' instead of at breakfast meals, 'lunchs' instead of lunches, and 'Fuerthermore' instead of furthermore. These lexical inaccuracies do not severely impede communication, but they highlight limitations in precision and control. Overall, the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the intended meaning of the charts.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like 'while added sugar contributed as...' and 'whereas saturated fat is present with...'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'Sodium contributed with 14%', 'aprroximately', and inconsistent tense usage ('is present' mixed with past tense 'contributed'). Punctuation and minor spelling lapses also occur. While these errors rarely completely impede understanding, they demonstrate a lack of consistent control over complex grammatical structures, placing the response firmly within the band 5 range for grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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