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 chart illustrates the portions of different eating items, which results in damage of health if eaten too much.

Overall, there is lot of sodium in every eating product, and also saturated fat. Moreover, there is too much sugar in snacks , if these things eaten too much cause medical issues.

To begin with, there is 14% sodium in snacks as well as in breakfast, eaten by individuals. Moreover 43% sodium present in dinner and 29% in lunch.

However, snacks consist of 21% fat and breakfast consist of 16% fat. Whereas 37% fat present in dinner and only 26% present in lunch, eaten by citizens.

Thirdly, snacks consist of highest percentage, about 42% but unfortunately only 16% sugar consist in breakfast. 23% sugar present in dinner and 19% sugar added in lunch which is eaten by people.

Therefore, all items consist of lots of sugar, sodium and fat which is dangerous for health.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the charts, including sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars across four meal types. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive overview. While the data is presented, the comparison between categories is limited, and the conclusion repeats the introductory premise rather than synthesising the data trends. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the data more effectively—for instance, noting that dinner consistently accounts for the highest percentages across all three nutrients—rather than listing each category in isolation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and sometimes mechanical, such as the frequent use of 'Moreover' and 'Thirdly'. The progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed, as the transition between the different nutrients feels abrupt. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the logical flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and better signposting to guide the reader through the data comparisons.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'eating items', 'eating product', and 'these things' are imprecise and lack the academic tone required for IELTS Task 1. There is little attempt to use less common vocabulary or precise collocations related to data description. To improve, you should incorporate more varied terminology for describing trends and proportions, such as 'constitutes', 'accounts for', 'a significant proportion', or 'the majority'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'breakfast consist of') and article usage. Some sentences are awkward, such as 'if these things eaten too much cause medical issues', which lacks a clear subject. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of complex sentence structures and the persistence of basic grammatical errors limit the score. Focusing on accurate verb forms and varying sentence complexity would significantly improve your performance.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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