Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-06

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 pie charts illustrates the proportions of three types of nutrients in typical meals consumed in the USA.

Sodium and saturated fats contributes the most in dinner meals. Whereas, added sugar is relatively high in snacks. Sodium in breakfast meals is comparatively less than saturated fats and added sugar. In lunch the amount of added sugar is less than other nutrients. Snacks and breakfast contains an equal amount of sodium while other nutrients are comparatively high in snacks than in breakfast. The high amount of Sodium, Saturated fats and added sugar in dinner makes it the most unhealthy meal. Lunch follows dinner to become the second most unhealthy meal as illustrated in the pie chart containing 29 percent of sodium, 26 percent of saturated fat and 23 percent of added sugar. Breakfast is the most healthy meal according to the pie chart as all the nutrients are relatively less than any other meal time

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main task by reporting on the proportions of the three nutrients across the four meal categories, meeting the minimum word count requirement. However, the treatment of the data is somewhat uneven. While you successfully highlight that dinner accounts for the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fats, and correctly point out specific figures such as lunch containing 29 percent of sodium, some comparisons are limited or lack sufficient extension. For instance, stating that "Sodium in breakfast meals is comparatively less than saturated fats and added sugar" overlooks the specific values in the charts. To reach a higher level, you need to provide a more fully developed overview and ensure all key features and comparisons are accurately supported by the provided data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation in your writing, moving from general observations to specific meal details, but the response lacks a clear overall progression. Paragraphing is extremely weak, with almost the entire body of the response crammed into a single block of text following the introduction, which hinders the logical flow of information. Cohesive devices are minimal or repetitive; for example, starting multiple sentences with transitions like "Whereas" or "In lunch" without varied cohesive ties creates a mechanical reading experience. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to trace how ideas connect. To improve, you should group related information into distinct paragraphs and use a wider, more natural variety of cohesive links to guide the reader smoothly through your comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to discuss nutritional data and meal types, but the range is limited and contains noticeable errors. You attempt some less common terms and comparative structures, but slip-ups in word form and choice occur, such as writing "The pie charts illustrates" (where the plural subject clashes with the verb) and using "most healthy" instead of "healthiest". There are also minor collocation issues regarding how nutrients are described as contributing to meals. While these inaccuracies do not completely impede communication, they restrict the precision of your reporting. To achieve a higher score, incorporate a wider variety of precise vocabulary and precise collocations related to data reporting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a limited range of sentence structures, relying primarily on simple statements with occasional attempts at complex forms. There are frequent grammatical errors that affect your control, including subject-verb agreement issues such as "Sodium and saturated fats contributes" and "Snacks and breakfast contains", as well as missing plural agreements and awkward prepositions ("in breakfast meals"). Although the meaning remains mostly understandable despite these errors, the high frequency of basic slips prevents the grammar from achieving a higher rating. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, ensuring correct article usage, and expanding your repertoire of error-free complex sentence structures.

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