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 pie charts show that the percentages of meals such as snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner in three types of nutrients like sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in the USA.
Firstly, the chart illustrate the percentage of sodium in typical meals. The percentage of sodium in snacks and in breakfast almost same is 14% while the percentage in lunch is greater then snacks and breakfast is about 29% while the percentage in dinner is highly greater then others meals is about 43%.
Secondly, the percentage of saturated fat in snacks is 21% while its percentage slightly lower in breakfast then its percentage in lunch is greater then other meals is 26% at the end its percentage two times greater the breakfast is about 37%.
Turning to the other side, the percentage of amount of sugar in snacks tow times greater then dinner is about 42% while its percentage in dinner is 23% then in lunch its percentage slightly lower the dinner is about 19% its percentage is three times lower than snacks is about 16%.
Overall, The charts show that percentage higher in snacks and in dinner in all nutrients.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by summarizing the provided charts. You have identified the main features, such as the high levels of sodium in dinner and sugar in snacks. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive overview. While you have included data, some comparisons are inaccurate or confusingly phrased, such as the description of saturated fat percentages. To improve, ensure that your overview highlights the most significant trends across all three categories rather than just listing data points. The summary at the end is a good start but could be more analytical.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Turning to the other side'. However, the flow between sentences is often repetitive, and the use of 'while' as the primary connector makes the writing feel mechanical. Some transitions are awkward, such as 'at the end its percentage', which does not clearly signal a final point. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'percentage', 'greater', and 'lower'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'highly greater' (which is grammatically incorrect) and 'the chart illustrate' (subject-verb agreement error). To improve, incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'significant', 'marginal', or 'surpass'. Avoid repeating the same structures and adjectives throughout the response to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the chart illustrate' (should be 'illustrates'), 'greater then' (should be 'greater than'), and 'snacks tow times greater' (should be 'two times greater'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or compound, with limited use of complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with run-on sentences and missing commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct comparative structures, and proofreading for basic spelling and punctuation errors. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures will also help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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