Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-04

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 pie char illustrates the proportion of average percentage of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA.

Overall, The sodium dinner percentage is highest, while added sugar is low.In addition, Added sugar snacks are largest category, whereas again sodium lunch is huge value.

Firstly, in sodium dinner has 43% substantial, meanwhile Saturated fat is second number of account 37%.Added sugar dinner is just 23%. Furthermore, added sugar snacks are the biggest proportion 42%, at the same time saturated fat half percentage 21% as compared with added sugar. Sodium snacks proportion are down only 14%.

Secondly, sodium is mixed in lunch utilize in the USA is 29%,while saturated fat is accumulated in lunch is 26%. Nevertheless,Added sugar in lunch is low only 19%. Moreover, saturated fat and added sugar breakfast is same percentage only 16%,whereas sodium breakfast is 14%,typical meals consumed in the America respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several important features, including dinner as the highest meal for sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), and snacks as the largest source of added sugar (42%). You also report many figures accurately, such as lunch values and the breakfast comparison. This gives the response relevant coverage of the charts. However, the overview is unclear when it says “added sugar is low,” which conflicts with its high snack share, and “sodium lunch is huge value” is not a precise summary. Some comparisons are mentioned but not clearly explained, so the main patterns are not developed equally. A clearer overview contrasting dinner’s sodium and saturated-fat peaks with snacks’ added-sugar peak would make the key features more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by two detail paragraphs, and sequencing phrases such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” help signal movement through the data. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because meal categories and nutrients shift abruptly. For example, the first detail paragraph moves from dinner to snacks without a clear organising principle, while “at the same time” does not express the intended comparison clearly. The overview also repeats points later without establishing a strong hierarchy. Grouping the figures consistently—such as comparing all nutrients by meal, or describing each nutrient in turn—and using more precise links would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentage,” “category,” and “compared with,” and the reader can generally identify the figures being discussed. However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or unnatural, as in “sodium is mixed in lunch,” “saturated fat is accumulated in lunch,” and “second number of account.” These phrases make some comparisons harder to interpret. Repetition of “percentage” and “proportion” also limits flexibility, while “huge value” is too informal and imprecise for an academic summary. Aim for standard reporting expressions such as “accounted for,” “was highest,” and “represented,” and check that each phrase describes the data relationship accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and use contrast clauses with “while” and “whereas,” showing an effort to vary sentence structure. However, many sentences contain errors in clause construction, articles, agreement, or punctuation. For example, “Firstly, in sodium dinner has 43% substantial” lacks a clear grammatical subject and predicate, and “saturated fat and added sugar breakfast is same percentage” has problems with articles and agreement. Capitalisation after commas and full stops is also inconsistent, and several sentences run together without appropriate spacing or punctuation. These errors sometimes make the intended relationships difficult to follow. Build each comparison around a clear subject and verb, then check sentence boundaries and agreement.

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