Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-07

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 illustrate the average proportions of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar consumed in four different meals in the USA.

First of all, it can be see that, In America, Mainly three types of nutrients in typical meals. Moreover, 43% Sodium is a highly recommended in the dinner, 14% sodium use into snacks or breakfast and also, 29% sodium use into lunch. On the other hand, There are 37% saturated fat used to dinner, 21% saturated fat used to snacks, 16% saturated fat used to breakfast and 26% saturated fat used to lunch.

Secondly, There are 42% sugar used into snack, less use of sugar into the breakfast, 19% sugar used into the lunch and 23% sugar used into the dinner.

Overall, dinner accounts for the largest proportion of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contain the highest percentage of added sugar. In contrast, lunch generally had the slowest proportions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the subject accurately and report the main high points: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. Most figures are also correctly assigned to meals. However, the overview is weakened by saying lunch had the “slowest proportions”: lunch is not the lowest for any nutrient, and breakfast has the lowest saturated fat and added sugar, while breakfast and snacks tie for the lowest sodium. The opening body sentences also describe the figures without clearly comparing the meal patterns, and “highly recommended” misrepresents a nutrient share as advice. To strengthen the response, give a concise, accurate overview first and make the key contrasts explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to details and then an overall statement, and the nutrient-by-nutrient grouping makes the figures reasonably easy to locate. However, progression is not consistently clear: “First of all” and “Secondly” organise the response by sequence rather than by meaningful comparisons, and the final overview arrives after the detailed figures. The opening body passage also contains fragmented statements, which interrupt the flow. Some linking phrases, such as “On the other hand,” suggest a contrast that is not clearly established. A clearer overview paragraph followed by grouped comparisons, with more precise transitions and references, would make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “proportions,” “sodium,” “saturated fat,” and “added sugar,” so the subject is generally clear. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “highly recommended” for a percentage, “sugar used into snack,” and “slowest proportions.” Repetition of “used” also limits the range and makes the description sound less precise. Choose neutral reporting verbs and terms such as “accounted for,” “represented,” or “share,” and use “lowest” rather than “slowest” for proportions. More accurate collocations would improve clarity and help you describe the data in a more formal, IELTS-appropriate style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple statements and longer sentences, and the final sentence uses a clear contrast structure. However, control is uneven, with errors in sentence formation and verb patterns. For example, “it can be see that” should use a past participle, while “Mainly three types of nutrients in typical meals” is a fragment without a finite verb. Punctuation and capitalisation are also inconsistent in “In America, Mainly…”. Phrases such as “43% Sodium is…” and “sugar used into snack” lack grammatical structure or use unsuitable prepositions. Practise complete subject–verb sentences and consistent past-tense reporting, while checking articles and prepositions. This would make the data easier to follow.

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