Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-11

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 below three pie charts illustrates the average percentages of sodium,saturated fat and added sugar in American people's diet in Breakfast,Snacks,lunch and dinner in appropriate proportion.

Overall, the dinner has a majority of sodium and saturated fat whereas snacks have a majority of added sugar. Breakfast has the same level of added sugar and saturated fat 16% each but the snacks are lowest in the sodium nutrient.

It can be clearly observed that Americans like to have more quantity of sodium in dinner and approximately same amount of sodium and saturated fat for lunch. The amount of sodium is less in snacks compared to saturated fat and added sugar. Lunch accounts for same proportion of sodium and saturated fat but a decline in added sugar.

Remaining parts are approximately adjacent to each other like 14% sodium and 16% saturated fat in breakfast whereas 26% in saturated fat and 29% in sodium for lunch

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast accurately: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks have the highest added sugar. You also include relevant figures, such as 16% for breakfast’s saturated fat and added sugar, and 29% sodium versus 26% saturated fat at lunch. This gives the response a clear, relevant overview. However, some comparisons are unclear or incomplete: “approximately same amount of sodium and saturated fat for lunch” is not precise, and the claim that lunch shows “a decline in added sugar” does not specify the comparison. The overview would be stronger if it reported the key extremes and explained the meal-by-meal patterns more fully, including that breakfast has the lowest sodium and that dinner’s added sugar is relatively low.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening, an overview and paragraphs containing supporting comparisons. The overview helps the reader identify the main pattern before the details. However, progression is limited: the third paragraph repeats the overview’s points about dinner and snacks, while the final paragraph adds figures without clearly connecting them to the preceding discussion. Linking phrases such as “It can be clearly observed” and “Remaining parts” do not establish precise relationships between the data, and the final sentence feels unfinished. Group the figures by meal or by nutrient, then use clear comparisons to guide the reader from the largest values to the smaller ones. This would make the organisation more purposeful and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “accounts for,” “majority,” and the nutrient names, so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural: “Americans like to have more quantity of sodium” suggests preference rather than the chart’s measured share, and “Remaining parts are approximately adjacent to each other” does not clearly describe the figures. “Majority” is also not accurate for values such as 43%, which is the largest share but not more than half. Aim for precise terms such as “highest proportion” and “share,” and use natural collocations for describing data. Consistent spelling and spacing around commas would also improve presentation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including the contrast introduced by “whereas” and the clause beginning “but the snacks are lowest.” Most of the intended meaning can be understood, but some grammatical errors remain. The opening has subject–verb disagreement in “three pie charts illustrates,” and the sentence beginning “Breakfast has the same level…” lacks a clear grammatical connection between its two ideas. In “The amount of sodium is less in snacks compared to saturated fat and added sugar,” the comparison is not formed clearly. Punctuation and sentence boundaries also need attention, particularly in the final paragraph, where the sentence lacks a full stop. Check agreement, build complete comparisons, and use punctuation to separate each point.

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