Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-05

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)

These charts provide comparison between sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in meals. Consumption of these nutrients in USA has been given. Every nutrient is equally important. However, if consumed in excess, it may prove to be unhealthy for consumer. From given information, it is clear that in dinner and lunch, highest amount of sodium is taken. Equal amount of saturated fat and added sugar is eaten in breakfast. Added sugar contributes most in snacks. Residents of USA consume highest percentage of added sugars in snacks and lowest in breakfast. In comparison to this, similar trend of sodium and saturated fat has been observed. Their diet contains big portion of saturated fat and sodium in dinner and small amount in breakfast. Snacks proves to be slightly unhealthy as they consist of major portion of added sugar.However, the overall balance between consumption of these nutrients in different meals is important to stay healthy and fit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task partially by reporting some of the main features from the charts, such as the highest sodium levels being in dinner and lunch, and added sugars peaking in snacks. However, the data representation is incomplete and lacks precision. For instance, the writer states that equal amounts of saturated fat and added sugar are eaten at breakfast, which is partially supported at 16%, but many comparisons are vague or miss key data points from the charts. The overall structure attempts an overview, but the conclusions regarding health advice drift away from purely reporting visual data into personal commentary. To move to a higher band, all key data points should be reported accurately and supported with specific percentages rather than broad generalisations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation present, but the response lacks clear overall progression and logical flow between sentences. The text is presented as a single block of writing without paragraphing, which makes the structure appear disorganised. Cohesive devices are minimal, repetitive, or mechanically applied, such as the frequent transitions like 'From given information' and 'In comparison to this'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to follow the relationships between the data points being compared. To improve coherence, the response needs to be divided into logical paragraphs, such as an introduction, body paragraphs grouping the nutrients or meals, and a clear concluding overview, supported by a wider range of appropriate cohesive links.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey the basic topic of nutrient consumption. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'consumption', 'nutrients', and 'percentage', but there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'highest amount of sodium is taken' instead of consumed, and 'diet contains big portion' instead of a large proportion. Word forms and word choices occasionally cause minor stumbling blocks for the reader. To achieve a higher band, the student should incorporate a broader range of precise vocabulary and academic collocations related to data reporting, whilst ensuring greater accuracy in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic subject-verb-object constructions. While there are some attempts at complex forms, they are frequently affected by errors, particularly missing articles (e.g., 'in USA' instead of 'in the USA', 'in dinner' instead of 'at dinner') and minor prepositional inaccuracies. Frequent errors in article usage and singular/plural agreement are noticeable throughout the text, though they rarely impede overall communication. To reach a higher band, the writer must demonstrate a greater variety of complex grammatical structures with increased accuracy, paying closer attention to articles and prepositions.

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

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