Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-15
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 charts depict the ratios of three distinct types of nutrients which were probably unhealthy if they consumed too much in typical meals.
Overall, sodium was the largest factor which consumed more in dinner than the other meals time. Saturated fat which had more consumption in dinner as compared to breakfast which contributed less than all figures. Added sugar became the largest consumption element during snacks time.
To begin with, sodium consumption was less during snacks and breakfast times accounted for merely 14%. Furthermore, second factor was lunch which had 29% consumption in meal. Afterwards, dinner time represented the 43% of the total.
In addition, saturated fat had least eating in breakfast which was solely 16%, while 37% depicted for dinner time. In fact, snacks and lunch time illustrated 21% and 26% results.
Finally, dinner time consumption of added sugar was only 23% which increased to 42% at snacks time. Indeed, breakfast time had only 16% and the lunch time amounted to 19%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student attempts to address the task by summarizing the main features of the four charts depicting the intake of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar across four meal times. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, correctly highlighting key extremes such as sodium peaking at dinner and added sugar peaking during snacks. However, the selection of data is occasionally imprecise and repetitive, and some figures are described awkwardly. For instance, the phrase 'breakfast which contributed less than all figures' is vague. Despite minor flaws in data selection and interpretation, the core trends are presented, aligning with the requirements for Band 5.5 to 6.0. Because the response covers all parts of the prompt with relevant data points, a band score of 6.0 is awarded.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and three body paragraphs corresponding to the three nutrients. While this paragraph structure is logical, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes hindered by mechanical or awkward cohesive devices (e.g., 'To begin with', 'In addition', 'Finally'). Reference words and logical links are not always used smoothly, creating a somewhat choppy reading experience. Paragraphing is attempted appropriately to separate ideas, but transitions between sentences lack sophistication. These characteristics place the response firmly in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range, where organization is discernible but cohesion contains noticeable flaws.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The lexical range is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic vocabulary and frequent reuse of words like 'consumption', 'time', and 'meals'. There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'which were probably unhealthy if they consumed too much' (passive/active confusion), 'largest consumption element', and 'had least eating'. Although these errors occasionally cause strain or awkwardness for the reader, communication of the numerical data remains mostly intact. The vocabulary is adequate for basic task communication but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands, fitting the Band 5.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though attempts at complex structures frequently result in grammatical errors. Examples include 'sodium was the largest factor which consumed more in dinner', where voice and relative clauses are mishandled, and 'breakfast and breakfast times accounted for'. Other errors include tense inconsistencies and awkward prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally retrievable despite the frequent errors, the high frequency of inaccurate complex structures prevents the score from rising above Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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