Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-10

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 charts illustrate the proportion of three nutrients across four different meals for the USA CON

Overall, it can be clearly seen that, dinner displays highest percentage for sodium and saturated fat, despite added sugar. Anothe noticeable point is that, breakfast shows least amount of nutrients for all three categories.

For sodium, dinner represented most amount of nurtrients for 43%, followed by lunch at 29%, whereas snack and breakfast recorded least amount of nutrients for 14% each. The 2nd pie charts for saturated fat which accounted nutrients for dinner at 37%, while breakfast was the lowest nutrients at 16%. For lunch and snack they showed at 26% and 21% respectively.

In addition that, for added sugar snack was the most provider

at 42%, while breakfast was the least provider for added sugar at 16%.

Dinner and lunch provided added sugar for 23% and 19% for the USA consumer.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern accurately: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead in added sugar. Most figures are also reported correctly, including sodium at 43% for dinner and 29% for lunch, and added sugar at 42% for snacks. However, the overview says breakfast has the least amount for all three nutrients, which is not true for saturated fat: breakfast and added sugar are both 16%, but saturated fat’s lowest meal is breakfast only in a tie with no other meal; more importantly, the overview’s wording is imprecise. The body covers the categories, though some comparisons are underdeveloped. The response is one word below the required minimum. Add a clearer overview and a concise comparison of the contrasting meal patterns.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and body details grouped by nutrient. This makes the information generally easy to follow, and sequencing sodium, saturated fat, then added sugar is sensible. Cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear, however. Phrases such as “For sodium” and “In addition that” signal sections, but the latter is grammatically incomplete and the transition into the final comparison is abrupt. The sentence beginning “The 2nd pie charts” also makes the reference to the chart awkward, while “For lunch and snack they showed” leaves the subject unclear. Use clear topic sentences and connect comparisons directly—for example, contrast dinner’s high sodium and fat shares with snacks’ high sugar share.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary such as “proportion,” “percentage,” “followed by,” and “accounted,” and the reader can understand the main comparisons. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “most amount of nutrients,” “least provider,” and “most provider.” “Nutrients” is also too broad when you are describing a specific share of sodium, saturated fat, or added sugar. There are noticeable spelling errors, including “nurtrients” and “Anothe,” and “USA CON” appears to be an unfinished or incorrect phrase. Aim for precise chart language such as “accounted for,” “the highest proportion,” and “the lowest share,” and proofread spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “despite” and clauses introduced by “while” and “whereas.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors make the writing less controlled. For example, “dinner displays highest percentage” needs an article, and “For lunch and snack they showed at 26%” has an unclear subject and an incomplete construction. The opening sentence is also unfinished, and “In addition that” is not a complete grammatical linking phrase. Several sentences rely on similar patterns rather than showing a consistently controlled range. Practise complete sentence structures, articles, and clear subject–verb relationships, then check punctuation and sentence boundaries.

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.