Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-01

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 pie chart provides information about the average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals used up in the USA.

Overall, it can be seen that the sodium and saturated fat eaten is higher than the other types of nutrients in dinner time.Added sugar is highest consumed in snacks. Moreover all three types of nutrients are least in breakfast and lunch time feed.

Firstly, in terms of breakfast average percentages of sodium is 14%, saturated fat is 16% and added sugar is 16% eaten in USA. On the other hand, in dinner time it opposed sodium and saturated fat are up to 43% and 37% respectively higher than other types of nutrients but added sugar highest absorbe to 42% in snacks.

Secondaly, in the lunch time citizens eaten up to 29% of sodium, 26% of saturated fat and 19% of added sugar. Furtheremore, USA people consumed 14% of sodium and 21% of saturated fat consumed but in the dinner time people eaten added sugar up to 23%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the chart’s subject and include figures for all three nutrients across the meal categories. The overview also captures two important patterns: sodium and saturated fat peak at dinner, while added sugar is highest in snacks. However, the overview is partly unclear when it says all nutrients are lowest in “breakfast and lunch time”; lunch is not the minimum for any nutrient, and breakfast and snacks tie for the lowest sodium share. Some details are also confusingly expressed: the final sentence appears to assign 14% sodium and 21% saturated fat to snacks, but does not clearly name that meal. To strengthen the response, state the main comparisons precisely and report each category’s figures without ambiguity.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs covering meal categories. This helps the reader locate the main information. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview’s claim about the lowest figures is confusing, and the final paragraph shifts from lunch to snacks and then to dinner without clear signposting. Connectors such as “Firstly,” “On the other hand” and “Secondaly” are used, but some do not accurately signal the relationship between the information. Grouping the figures by nutrient or presenting each meal category in a consistent order would make comparisons easier to follow. Clearer references to “snacks” and “dinner” would also prevent uncertainty about which figures belong to which meal.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “average percentages,” “sodium,” “saturated fat” and “added sugar,” and you attempt to describe comparisons with phrases such as “higher than” and “highest.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the data difficult to interpret. For example, meals are “consumed,” not “used up,” and “added sugar highest absorbe” is not a clear way to describe the largest share. There are also spelling errors such as “Secondaly” and “Furtheremore.” Aim for precise reporting verbs and standard collocations, and check spelling carefully. A more controlled vocabulary would make your comparisons clearer without needing more elaborate wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including an overview beginning “Overall, it can be seen” and a contrast introduced by “On the other hand.” However, grammatical control is uneven, and some sentence structures make relationships between figures unclear. For example, “the sodium and saturated fat eaten is higher” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “in dinner time it opposed sodium and saturated fat are up to…” is not a complete, well-formed construction. Missing spaces after full stops and inconsistent punctuation also affect readability. Practise forming clear comparison sentences with accurate subjects and verbs, such as “Sodium accounted for 43% at dinner, compared with 14% at breakfast and in snacks.”

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