Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-13
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 three pie chart illustrate the average percentage of sodium,saturated fat and added sugar consumed in the USA from four different meals . breakfast, lunch ,dinner and snacks.
Overall, dinner accounts for the highest proportion of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks contain the largest percentage of added sugar. breakfast has the lowes figures for all three nutrients.
Looking at sodium ,dinner represents the highest proportion, at 43%follwed by lunch at 29% .Breakfast and snacks both account for 14% .A similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat. Dinner makes up 37% ,while lunch accounts for 26%. snacks represent 21% and breakfast has the lowest figure, at 16%.
In contrast, snacks are the main source of added sugar ,accounting for 42%.Dinner represent 23%,followed by lunch at 19%.breakfast has the lowes
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified the main features and made relevant comparisons, the final paragraph is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence ('breakfast has the lowes'). This prevents a full summary of the data. To improve, ensure you complete all comparisons and provide a comprehensive overview that covers all nutrients across all categories. The failure to finish the final sentence and the overall brevity mean the task is only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'Looking at', and 'In contrast' to signal shifts in focus. However, the cohesion is somewhat mechanical, and the abrupt ending of the text disrupts the flow of information. To reach a higher band, ensure that your paragraphs are balanced in length and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'consumed', and 'nutrients' correctly. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'lowes' instead of 'lowest' and 'follwed' instead of 'followed'. Additionally, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To improve, try to use more varied synonyms for 'highest' or 'lowest' (e.g., 'predominant', 'minimal') and ensure you proofread for basic spelling mistakes, which detract from the professional tone of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are frequent errors in punctuation and capitalization, such as missing spaces after commas and failing to capitalize the start of sentences (e.g., 'breakfast, lunch ,dinner'). Subject-verb agreement is generally maintained, but the incomplete final sentence is a major grammatical issue. To improve, focus on consistent punctuation, proper capitalization, and ensuring that every sentence is grammatically complete before moving on to the next point.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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