Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-06

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 above three charts illustrate nutrients that are essential for a balanced diet but can easily be overconsumed

The three pie charts tells us about three nutrients that are sodium, saturated fat and added sugar that are easily overconsumed and can lead to an unhealthy diet. They tell us that dinner is usually the most unhealthy meal.

Dinner, lunch and breakfast are the major source for saturated fat and sodium. For sodium dinner is the major source at 43%, then is lunch at 29%, breakfast at 14% and lastly snacks at 14%. For saturated fat again dinner again is the major source at 37%, then lunch at 26%, snacks at 21% and finally breakfast at 16%. The above data shows that our regular meals are a major source for the above nutrients.

For added sugar the food that we eat on the side, that is snacks is the major source at 42%, then dinner at 23% followed by lunch at 19% and finally breakfast at 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all three charts and identifies the main features, such as dinner being the primary source for sodium and saturated fat, and snacks for added sugar. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on listing percentages rather than synthesizing the information. The introduction is slightly inaccurate, as the prompt states these nutrients are unhealthy if overconsumed, whereas the student claims they are 'essential for a balanced diet.' To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping data more effectively and providing a clearer overview of the trends rather than simply listing figures for each category.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear separation between the nutrients. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. Phrases like 'For sodium,' 'For saturated fat,' and 'For added sugar' are used to start sentences, which makes the flow feel a bit list-like. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion could be strengthened by varying the sentence structure and using referencing more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and sophistication. You rely on basic terms like 'major source' and 'unhealthy' repeatedly. While the terminology related to the charts (sodium, saturated fat, added sugar) is accurate, there is little attempt to use less common lexical items or more precise descriptive language. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more varied vocabulary to describe trends and proportions, such as 'predominant,' 'account for,' 'constitute,' or 'a significant portion.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'The three pie charts tells us' (subject-verb agreement) and 'the food that we eat on the side, that is snacks is' (punctuation and phrasing). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a lack of control over more complex structures. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentences are punctuated correctly, especially when using appositives or lists.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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