Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-16

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 given bar chart illustrates information about average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA . The chart compares different categories and presents the data in number or percentages .

Overall, it is clear that there are noticeable among the categories shown in the chart . Dinner for the highest fat and breakfast for low fats , In addition , some categories show some fluctuation increment as well as decrement whereas for some cases they remain stable .

According to the chart , the first main activities sodium for four type breakfast 14% in sodium , Dinner 43 % the highest sodium , Lunch 29% , Snacks 14% to compared other . The followed by second step saturated fat in breakfast 16% , Dinner 37% for the high saturated fat , Lunch 26% , Snacks 21% in saturated fat . This shows a clear comparison among the activities .

Let us have a look at remaining information , it is evident that the activity Added sugar in breakfast 16% , Dinner 23% in sugar , Lunch 19% for sugar , Snacks 42% for the high added sugar . Hence , all the data suggest that there is no stability in all the activities .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You report the figures for all three nutrients and identify several important highs, including dinner for sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), and snacks for added sugar (42%). This gives the response relevant coverage of the chart. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: “Dinner for the highest fat and breakfast for low fats” does not capture the contrasting pattern that dinner leads in sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead in added sugar. The claim that some categories “remain stable” is also unsupported, as the percentages vary across meal types. To strengthen the response, state the main contrasts clearly in the overview, then compare the meal patterns rather than listing each figure in sequence.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs, and the reader can generally follow the order in which the nutrients are discussed. However, progression within the paragraphs is often mechanical: “According to the chart,” “The followed by second step,” and “Let us have a look” do not create clear relationships between the data. The repeated listing of meal figures also makes comparisons harder to see, while “This shows a clear comparison” adds little information. Use a concise overview followed by paragraphs that group related patterns—for example, dinner’s high sodium and saturated fat versus snacks’ high added sugar—and use linking phrases only where they clarify those comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary such as “average percentages,” “sodium,” “saturated fat,” and “added sugar,” so the topic is clear. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “first main activities sodium,” “the high saturated fat,” and “no stability in all the activities.” “Bar chart” is also an inaccurate label for the visual, which consists of pie charts. These choices sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to interpret. Aim for precise reporting language such as “meal types,” “accounted for,” “highest proportion,” and “varied,” and avoid calling the categories “activities.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the main figures can usually be understood. However, sentence structures are often incomplete or poorly controlled. For example, “Dinner for the highest fat and breakfast for low fats” lacks a complete verb structure, while “The followed by second step saturated fat” is difficult to parse. There are also recurring problems with articles, plurals and punctuation, as in “four type breakfast” and the spaces before full stops. These errors sometimes interrupt the reader’s understanding. Build each comparison as a complete sentence with a clear subject and verb—for example, “Dinner accounts for the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat”—and check sentence boundaries and article use.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.