Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-09

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 chart illustrates the average percentages in typical meals of the types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Overall, in breakfast there is not a big difference in the ratio of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar. In dinner the quantity of sodium is much high then in added sugar, have 43% of sodium in dinner, to contrast with added sugar have 23%.

In lunch, only 3% difference on sodium and saturated fat, sodium have 29%, while saturated fat have 26%, and minor ratio of added sugar have 19%.

Snacks have the maximum proportion of 42% in added sugar, which might unhealthy if eaten too much but minimum proportion of 14% of sodium and optimum quantity of saturated fat of 21%.

To conclude, maximum ratio of sodium and saturated fat ranges from 37 to 40% in dinner, that's harmful for health, high ratio of added sugar in snacks and minimum ratio of 14% in snacks. the maximum range of nutrients is harmful for health.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the chart’s subject and report several relevant comparisons, including dinner’s highest sodium share (43%), snacks’ highest added-sugar share (42%), and lunch’s sodium and saturated-fat figures (29% and 26%). The overview also recognises that breakfast values are similar. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the claim that dinner’s sodium is “much high” than added sugar is not supported by a clear comparison, and the conclusion gives a saturated-fat range of “37 to 40%” even though dinner is 37%. The statement that snacks have the minimum sodium share overlooks breakfast, which is also 14%. Develop the overview by clearly comparing the main peaks and lows across all three nutrients.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, meal-by-meal details, and a concluding statement. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “In lunch” and “Snacks” signal changes in focus. However, progression is not consistently clear because the overview and conclusion repeat similar claims, while the body moves between meals without a strong organising principle. Some links are awkward or incomplete, particularly “to contrast with added sugar have 23%,” which makes the comparison difficult to follow. The conclusion also introduces a confusing “maximum range” rather than synthesising the key pattern. Grouping the figures by nutrient, or using a consistent meal-by-meal sequence, and linking comparisons in complete sentences would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “ratio,” “maximum,” and “minimum,” and the reader can generally understand which nutrients and meals you mean. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing percentages: “quantity” is less suitable than “share” or “proportion,” and “optimum quantity” does not mean the same as the highest or typical figure. Phrases such as “maximum ratio” and “high ratio” are repeated, limiting precision, while “harmful for health” makes an unsupported judgement rather than describing the data. Aim for accurate collocations such as “accounted for,” “was the largest share,” and “was followed by,” and vary your language without changing the meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex comparisons, and the main figures are often understandable. However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms frequently make relationships unclear. For example, “sodium have 29%” needs subject–verb agreement and a complete reporting structure, while “to contrast with added sugar have 23%” is not a well-formed clause. The sentence beginning “In dinner the quantity of sodium…” also combines ideas without a clear grammatical link. Punctuation and sentence boundaries need attention, especially in the final conclusion, where several claims run together. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, such as “Sodium accounted for 43% at dinner, compared with 23% for added sugar.”

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