Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-19
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 that the classic meals which has three kinds of nutrients and if it was eaten way too much it became unhealthy. The data can be calibrated in percentage.
Overall, it is clear that snack has maximum number of sugar in it while dinner has large quantities of sodium and saturated fat. Conversely, breakfast contains least amount of these nutrients.
Having a brief look at the charts it is evident that snacks with added sugar has the largest portion which is approximately 42% whereas dinner comes at the second position, it represents 23%. In addition, lunch as well as breakfast are 19% and 16%, respectively. Nevertheless, dinner has the biggest share which includes saturated fat around 37% while lunch has 5% more saturated fat as compare to snack. Meanwhile, breakfast has the least percentile of it.
Moving further, sodium acquire just under a half position in dinner. Nonetheless, breakfast and snack has the similar amount of sodium added in it. However, lunch has 29% sodium present in it.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the charts and made relevant comparisons. You covered all three nutrients and the four meal types. However, the report lacks precision in data reporting. For instance, you mention 'just under a half' for sodium in dinner, but the chart shows 43%, which is not particularly close to 50%. Additionally, the statement 'lunch has 5% more saturated fat as compare to snack' is mathematically inaccurate based on the provided data (16% vs 10%). To improve, ensure that your data points are accurate and that comparisons are clearly supported by the figures provided in the charts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'In addition', and 'Nevertheless' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'Moving further, sodium acquire just under a half position in dinner'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between sentences could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, such as 'illustrate', 'calibrated', and 'proportions'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'maximum number of sugar' (should be 'highest proportion of sugar') and 'least percentile' (should be 'lowest percentage'). The phrase 'half position' is also unnatural in this context. While these errors do not impede communication, they limit the precision of your report. Expanding your vocabulary to include more academic collocations related to data description would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('classic meals which has', 'snack has', 'breakfast and snack has') and incorrect verb forms ('sodium acquire'). There are also issues with prepositions and articles, such as 'as compare to' instead of 'compared to'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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