Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-12

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 charts in the diagram shows the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Firstly, the average percentage of sodium content in Dinner is 43 percent, which is the highest in the Sodium pie chart of the meals consumed in the USA, then followed by 19 percent in Lunch, then the precence of Sodium in Snacks and Breakfast are at an equal percentages of 14.

Next is the Saturated fat, where the average percentage of Saturated fat in Dinner is 37 percent, again which is highest in Saturated fat pie chart of meals consumed in USA, then followed by 26 percent in Lunch, then in Snack with 21 percent and finally 16 percent in Breakfast.

Lastly in Added sugar, the Snacks contain the highest percentage of Added sugar of 42 percent, then followed by Dinner with 23 percent, then during Lunch with a percentage of 19 percent and finally 16 percent in Breakfast.

Having high amounts of Calories, Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar in a meal may lead to being unhealthy. Thus it is important to follow a good balanced diet along with a form of some exercise.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You report several key figures and identify the main peaks: dinner has the highest sodium and saturated-fat shares, while snacks lead for added sugar. However, the sodium figure for lunch is given as 19%, whereas the chart shows 29%, so one important comparison is inaccurate. The response also lacks a clear overview that draws together the broad pattern—for example, dinner is highest for sodium and saturated fat, while added sugar is concentrated in snacks. The final advice about calories and exercise is not shown in the charts and does not help summarise them. These omissions and the data error leave the task only partly addressed; prioritise an accurate overview and chart-based comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged in a clear sequence, moving from sodium to saturated fat and then added sugar, with separate paragraphs for each nutrient. Linking expressions such as “Firstly,” “Next,” and “Lastly” help readers follow this order. However, the organisation is somewhat mechanical, and the repeated pattern of listing the highest value followed by the remaining meals makes the report feel like three separate descriptions rather than a synthesis of the charts. The final paragraph shifts abruptly from reporting data to general health advice. To improve progression, add a concise overview near the beginning and use comparisons across nutrients or meals to connect the details. Some phrasing, such as “then followed by,” is also repeated.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “sodium,” “saturated fat,” “added sugar,” “average percentage,” and “highest,” so the reader can understand the subject and comparisons. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “percentage,” “then followed by,” and “in the … pie chart.” Some expressions are awkward or imprecise, such as “the precence of Sodium” and “in Snack,” and “Calories” is introduced even though it is not one of the charted nutrients. Spelling errors such as “precence” are noticeable. Aim for more precise reporting language and vary comparison phrases, while checking spelling and using the chart’s labels consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including clauses with “where” and “which,” and most of the data remains understandable. However, some errors recur in sentence structure and agreement. The opening says “The charts … shows,” where the plural subject requires “show.” The sentence beginning “Firstly” is a long, loosely connected sequence of comparisons, and “are at an equal percentages” has incorrect agreement and number. There are also inconsistent capital letters for common nouns such as “Dinner” and “Sodium,” and extra spacing before punctuation. Use shorter, controlled comparison sentences and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and singular/plural forms. More accurate complex sentences would make the relationships between figures clearer.

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