Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-12
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 average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and sugars in typical meals consumed in USA.
Overall, dinner contain both sodium and saturated fat in higher amount. However, sugar contain the highest percentages of added sugar.
To begin with, dinner contain 43% sodium, which is the highest one. Compared to sodium proportion of the glyceride is lower at 37%. Moreover, snack contains 14% and 21% sodium and saturated fat respectively. In addition, percentages of saturated fat are higher in breakfast at 16% than sodium at 14%. However, proportion of fat in lunch is lower with 26% than sodium at 29%.
Secondly, snack contain the highest 42% added sugar, followed up by dinner and lunch with 23% and 19% respectively. Furthermore, percentages of glucose in breakfast are the lowest at 16% compared to other meals. In addition, the portion of fat and glucose in breakfast is equal at 16%.
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 three nutrients and identifies key features, such as the high sodium content in dinner and the high added sugar in snacks. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. The second paragraph attempts an overview but contains inaccuracies, such as stating 'dinner contain both sodium and saturated fat in higher amount' without specifying which meal it is being compared to. Furthermore, the data reporting is sometimes confusing; for example, the mention of 'glyceride' and 'glucose' is incorrect as these terms were not provided in the prompt, leading to a misinterpretation of the data. To improve, ensure you accurately label the categories provided in the charts and provide a more cohesive summary of the main trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. There is an attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Secondly'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical and does not always lead to a logical flow of ideas. For instance, the transition between the discussion of sodium/fat and sugar is abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which meal is being compared to another. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision. The student uses terms like 'glyceride' and 'glucose' which are not present in the prompt, indicating a misunderstanding of the data labels. There is also some repetition of basic verbs like 'contain' and 'is'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message, it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band. To improve, focus on using more varied reporting verbs (e.g., 'account for', 'constitute', 'represent') and ensure that technical terms are used accurately based on the provided charts.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'dinner contain' (should be 'dinner contains') and 'snack contain' (should be 'snack contains'). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the student attempts some complex sentence structures, these are often marred by errors. The majority of the sentences are simple, and the lack of control over basic grammatical rules prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for basic errors would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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