Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-08

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.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The pie chart illustrate the three diffferent types of nutrients that usually found in typical meals eat by USA people.

In a overview, snack has a higher proportion of added sugar while dinner has more amount of sodium and saturated fat.

Percentage of sodium is very high in dinner that is 43%, similarly following by saturated fat and added sugar found in dinner are 37% and 23%, respectively. Snack contained only 14% of sodiium which is very low than saturated fat and added sugar as 21% and 42%.

In lunch, people consume 19% added sugar that is lower than sodium and saturated fat. Saturated fat and added sugar has same amount present in breakfast which is 16%, whereas, sodium is only 14%. In Four type of typical meals of USA citizens, Highest amount of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar present in dinner while breakfast contained lower amount than others.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast accurately: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. Several figures are also reported correctly, including dinner’s 43% sodium and 37% saturated fat, and snacks’ 42% added sugar. However, the overview and comparisons are not fully precise. The claim that breakfast “contained lower amount than others” is too broad: breakfast is lowest for sodium and saturated fat, but not for added sugar, where snacks are highest and dinner is also above breakfast. The lunch discussion gives the 19% sugar figure but does not compare all three nutrients there. A clearer overview and more selective, accurate comparisons would make the key features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the meal data. This helps the reader follow the general subject, and linking expressions such as “similarly” and “whereas” show attempts to connect comparisons. However, progression is uneven: the final sentence repeats the earlier overview rather than adding a distinct comparison, and the lunch and breakfast information is combined in a way that makes the focus less clear. Some links are also awkward or unclear, particularly “similarly following by saturated fat and added sugar.” Organise the body around the most useful contrasts—for example, dinner versus snacks, then breakfast and lunch—and use references and transitions that clearly show which meal or nutrient is being compared.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentage,” “consume,” and the names of all three nutrients, so the topic remains understandable. There is also some effort to vary expressions, such as “higher proportion” and “contained.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “more amount,” “very low than,” and “same amount present” make comparisons harder to read. Spelling slips such as “diffferent” and “sodiium” also reduce accuracy. Aim for standard reporting phrases such as “accounted for,” “was lower than,” and “the same proportion,” and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary for ranking and comparing values would improve clarity without requiring unnecessarily complex words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, including a sentence with “whereas” and one using “while,” and the main figures can generally be understood. However, errors in sentence structure and agreement recur. For example, “The pie chart illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “nutrients that usually found” is missing a verb form and “meals eat by USA people” has an incomplete passive construction. In “Saturated fat and added sugar has same amount,” the plural subject requires “have,” and the article is missing. Some sentences also lack clear grammatical connections between clauses. Practise accurate basic sentence patterns first, then build comparisons with correctly formed clauses and consistent articles and agreement.

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.