Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07
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 illustrates the minimal percentage in typical food of sodium, saturated fats and added sugar might be unhealthy if consumed in a lot of amount.
Overall, all three nutrients faced increased and decreased in all day meals. Saturated fats were below from 30%. Added sugar were at minimal range but high in snack time, while Sodium showed various changes but very high in dinner time.
In USA, the ratio of saturated fat in breakfast was at 16%, in snack time it was little it up at 21% and in lunch time it was 26%. The major quantity was taken of nutrient in dinner at 37%. The ratio of added sugar in breakfast was 16%, in lunch it was 19%, while dinner was 23%. The high change was seen in snack time it was about 42%.
In contrast, the sodium ratio was high in all three nutrients. In breakfast it was 14%, in snack it was the same as breakfast and in lunch the ratio increased at 29%. The major change was seen in dinner it increased at very high point at 43%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the charts and made relevant comparisons. You covered all three nutrients and the four meal categories. However, the overview is slightly confusing; stating that nutrients 'faced increased and decreased' is vague and does not clearly summarise the trends. Additionally, there are some inaccuracies in your data reporting, such as claiming the sodium ratio was 'high in all three nutrients' when the breakfast and snack figures were actually the lowest of all categories. To improve, ensure your overview highlights the most significant trends (e.g., dinner being the highest for all three) and double-check your data points against the charts to ensure precision.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices like 'In contrast' and 'while', which is good. However, the progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing is occasionally unclear. For example, the sentence 'The major quantity was taken of nutrient in dinner at 37%' is slightly disjointed from the previous sentences. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence flows naturally into the next, rather than just listing data points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the charts clearly. You use terms like 'ratio', 'nutrients', and 'consumed' appropriately. However, there is a lack of variety and some awkward phrasing, such as 'in a lot of amount' and 'little it up'. These errors occasionally make the text sound unnatural. To improve, try to use more precise collocations and avoid repetitive structures. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs (e.g., 'peaked', 'fluctuated', 'accounted for') would significantly enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'Saturated fats were below from 30%' (should be 'below 30%') and 'The major change was seen in dinner it increased at very high point' (run-on sentence). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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