Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-26

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 illustration gives information about the percentages in specific meals of three kinds nutrients which may be unhealthy if we consume too much. Overall, the sugar which added in the snacks approximately 42% higher than other nutrients.

It is quite evident from pie chart that sodium in the dinner was comparatively higher than breakfast, lunch, and snackes. On the other hand, 29% of the sodium was incorporated in the lunch that was the second highest number . However, there was a small increase of sodium in the snacks about 14% which was the lowest figure.

Meanwhile, saturated fat was 37% in the dinner which was comparatively lowere than sodium. Although ratio of the saturated fat in snacks was 21% which was relatively same with the sugar in the lunch. But saturated fat in the dinner was 37% which was significantly lower than sodium in the dinner. Whereas, sodium in the snacks had lowest percentage than other nutrients

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify some important features, including dinner as the highest meal for sodium and saturated fat, and snacks as the highest for added sugar. However, the overview is unclear: “sugar which added in the snacks approximately 42% higher than other nutrients” does not accurately explain that snacks account for 42% of added sugar, rather than sugar being 42% higher. Coverage is also partial. You report several sodium figures and some saturated-fat data, but omit the key added-sugar comparisons and the breakfast figures, and repeat the dinner comparison instead of developing the full picture. Note that dinner sodium is 43%, while dinner saturated fat is 37%; the latter is not simply “significantly lower” without a clear comparison. Select the main highs and lows and compare all three nutrients accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has some organisation: it begins with an overview, then discusses sodium and saturated fat in separate sections, and uses linking expressions such as “On the other hand” and “Meanwhile.” However, progression is limited because the overview is imprecise and the final paragraph circles back to the same dinner and snack comparisons rather than completing a clear comparison of the charts. Several connectors do not show the intended relationship clearly, particularly “Although” followed by a sentence that does not complete the contrast, and “Whereas” introducing a repeated point. Grouping the main highs and lows across the three nutrients, then supporting them with selected figures, would make the sequence easier to follow and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonably varied set of terms for describing data, including “comparatively higher,” “incorporated,” “ratio,” and “significantly lower.” This gives you adequate vocabulary for the task, and the intended meaning is generally understandable. Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “sugar which added in the snacks” is not a clear way to describe the chart’s added-sugar share, while “small increase” suggests a change over time rather than a proportion. There are also spelling errors such as “snackes” and “lowere,” and “number” is less suitable than “figure” for a percentage. Aim for precise chart language such as “accounted for,” “proportion,” and “highest share,” and check spelling before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “Although” and “Whereas,” but some structures are incomplete or inaccurate. For example, “the sugar which added in the snacks approximately 42% higher” lacks a correctly formed verb phrase, and “Although ratio … was 21% … But” combines two contrasting structures without completing the first clause appropriately. Articles and sentence construction also need attention in “from pie chart” and “that was the second highest number.” These errors sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to interpret, although the main figures can often still be understood. Practise complete comparative sentences, for example, “Snacks accounted for 42% of added sugar, the highest share among the meals,” and check each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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.