Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-20
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 in typical meals of various types of nutrients, they may be unhealthy if eaten in large amount.
Overall, there are three types of nutrients (sodium, saturated fat, added sugar)in various meals consumed by the Americans. Sodium and saturated fat is highly associated with snack. While added sugar is highly found in dinner.
The percentage consumption of sodium and saturated fat from the snack are only 14% and 21% respectively, while the highest proportion (42%) of added sugar is consumed in snack. However, only 15% of added sugar if found in lunch, but the saturated fat and sodium found in lunch are more than quarter 26% and 29% respectively.
Following that all the nutrients; sodium, saturated fat, and the added sugar in the breakfast consumed in USA are 14%, 16%, and 16% respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 task achievement score. While you have identified the main features and provided some comparisons, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a cohesive overview of the trends. There are also factual inaccuracies in your reporting; for instance, you state that 42% of added sugar is consumed in snacks, but the chart shows this figure for dinner. Furthermore, the under-length nature of the response means that the data is not fully developed or explored, leading to a limited summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is hindered by the brevity of the text and some awkward transitions. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive (e.g., 'while', 'however'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between the introduction and the body paragraphs feels disjointed. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors like 'highly associated' and 'highly found'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'if found in lunch' instead of 'is found in lunch'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'constitutes', 'accounts for', or 'a significant proportion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('Sodium and saturated fat is', 'all the nutrients... are'), incorrect preposition usage, and punctuation errors. The sentence structure is often repetitive, relying heavily on simple lists of percentages. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures and proofreading for basic agreement errors would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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