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 charts illustrate the percentage of three types of nutrients like sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in four typical meals,which were consumed in the USA.
Overall, The highest percentage of sodium and saturated fat added in dinner. Similar, in snacks people added highest proportion of sugar. By contrast, in snack and breakfast people added least percentage of sodium.
In dinner, sodium accounted for 43%, while saturated fat and added sugar accounted for 37% and 23%. In snack, sodium and saturated fat consumed 14% and 21%, while added sugar accounted for 42%, which was the highest percentage of overall.
In the breakfast, sodium added 14%,while saturated fat and added sugar added similar 16%. In lunch, people ate meal in they consumed 29% of sodium and 26% of saturated fat. Added sugar accounted for 19% in lunch and it was healthy than other nutrients. Sodium consumed highest at 43% in dinner.
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 covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features of the charts. You successfully highlight the key trends, such as dinner having the highest sodium and saturated fat, and snacks being highest in sugar. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, simply listing figures rather than synthesising the information effectively. The final sentence is redundant as it repeats information already stated. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons are more analytical and avoid repetitive reporting of data points. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated to highlight the most significant differences across the four meal types.
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 'Overall', 'By contrast', and 'In the breakfast', which provide a basic structure. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed, and the use of cohesive devices is a bit repetitive. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'it was healthy than other nutrients', which lacks a clear logical connection to the preceding data. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the data clearly. You use terms like 'accounted for', 'proportion', and 'consumed', which are appropriate for a report. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'added highest proportion' instead of 'contained the highest proportion' and 'it was healthy than other nutrients', which is grammatically and lexically awkward. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that your word choices accurately reflect the data presented in the charts rather than implying human agency in the nutrient content.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'sodium and saturated fat added in dinner' (passive voice needed) and 'in snack and breakfast people added least percentage'. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice when describing data, as the nutrients are the subject of the charts, not the people consuming them.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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