Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-24
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 below illustrates the average percentages of three types of nutrients present in meals typically. These three types of nutrients are Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar which may impact badly on human health if they consume them too much.
This pie chart represent the use of these nutrients in regular meals in USA. First and foremost is Sodium, it is an essential material for food but too much intake of sodium can cause many diseases for example stone in kidney or liver. In USA forty three per cent individuals consume sodium in dinner time which is not healthy to eat at night time because too much sodium is not easily digested which then results in stone formation.
Furthermore, the other nutrient mostly use in USA is Saturated fat. Fat is also not suitable for human body, after consuming large amount of fats cause obesity and it can also cause heart diseases such as heart attack or blockage of heart veins. In USA, thirty per cent citizens consume saturated fat in dinner time.
In addition, large amount of citizens love to eat sugar on regular basis mostly present in desserts or coffees however they don't even know the consequences of intaking too much sugar. In USA, forty two person individuals eat sugar in their snack time which is harmful consuming large amount of sugar can also cause insulin reduction in body results in diabetes.
In contrast, sodium mostly use in dinner as well as saturated fat also use in dinner however sugar intake mostly occur during snack time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response fails to meet the requirements of an Academic Task 1 report. Instead of objectively summarizing the data, you have included significant amounts of irrelevant personal opinion and external knowledge, such as explaining the medical consequences of sodium and sugar intake (e.g., 'stone in kidney or liver'). Task 1 requires a neutral description of the data provided in the charts. Furthermore, you have misinterpreted the charts by focusing on 'dinner time' and 'snack time' as if they were the only categories, while ignoring the broader context of the data. To improve, focus strictly on reporting the percentages and making comparisons between the three nutrients without adding outside medical commentary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by the inclusion of irrelevant information. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'First and foremost', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition', but they are often used to introduce personal opinions rather than data-driven points. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the data points and your own commentary is abrupt. To improve, ensure that each paragraph focuses on a specific feature of the data and use cohesive devices to link comparisons between the nutrients rather than linking personal explanations.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the precision required for an Academic Task 1 report. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'essential material for food', 'forty two person individuals', and 'insulin reduction'. You rely on repetitive structures and basic terminology. To reach a higher band, you should use more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends and proportions, such as 'account for', 'constitute', 'a significant proportion', or 'the majority'. Avoid informal phrasing and focus on describing the data accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'These three types of nutrients are Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar which may impact badly on human health if they consume them too much' (subject-verb agreement and pronoun reference issues) and 'the other nutrient mostly use in USA' (missing auxiliary verb). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct verb tenses, and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately without missing articles or prepositions.
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