Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10
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 given pie charts illustrate average proportion of three various nutrients such as Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar in meals consumed by the United States of America's individuals in four different meals such as Snack, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. If citizens eat these kind of vitamins too much, it unhealthy for those.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that in Snack, the Sodium is stand with the lowest proportion while Added sugar is present with the highest amount. Furthermore, in Dinner, Sodium has the highest proportion whereas, Added sugar record the lowest percentage. Moreover, in Breakfast and Lunch are relatively similar in each meal.
In Snack, Sodium is stand with just 14%, considerably lower than Added sugar which has 42%. In Breakfast, Sodium, Saturated fat and added sugar is present with almost same figure such as 14%, 16% and 16% respectively.
In Dinner, Sodium is represent with significant proportion such as 43% it decrease in Saturated fat and Added sugar and reach 37% and 23% respectively. In lunch, Sodium is stand with 29%, considerably, higher than Added sugar which has only 19%. It decline by only 3% in Saturated fat and reach 26%.
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 three nutrients across the four meal types. You successfully highlight key comparisons, such as the high levels of added sugar in snacks and sodium in dinner. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing percentages without fully synthesizing the data into a cohesive narrative. To improve, focus on grouping the data more effectively—for instance, by identifying which nutrient dominates each meal category rather than listing them meal-by-meal. The introductory statement is accurate, but the concluding summary of the data could be more insightful to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'In addition', though some transitions feel slightly repetitive or forced. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. However, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. To improve, vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data comparison.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'significant', and 'respectively'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'Sodium is stand with' instead of 'Sodium accounts for' or 'Sodium stands at'. Additionally, referring to nutrients as 'vitamins' is factually incorrect in this context. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and collocations related to data description, such as 'constitutes', 'comprises', or 'a marginal increase'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Sodium is stand', 'Added sugar record') and article usage. Some sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'If citizens eat these kind of vitamins too much, it unhealthy for those.' To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that every sentence has a clear, correctly conjugated verb. Proofreading for these common errors would significantly improve the clarity of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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