Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-23

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 praportion of sodium, Saturated fat and added sugar consumed in four different meals in the USA: breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and snacks.

Overall, dinner accounts for the largest proportion of sodium and saturated fat intake, whereas snacks contain by far the highest percentage of added sugar. In contrast, breakfast generally contributes the smallest or one of the smallest proportion of these nutrients.

Regarding sodium, dinner makes up the highest share, at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%. Breakfast and snacks each account for only 14% of the total sodium consumed. a similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat. Dinner is again the maine source, representing 37%, while lunch contributes 26% snacks account for a slighty lower figure of 21% and breakfast has the smallest proportion, at16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main features and made relevant comparisons, the report is incomplete as it omits the analysis of added sugars entirely. To reach a higher band, you must ensure all data categories presented in the charts are addressed and that the response meets the length requirement. The overview is clear, but the lack of coverage for the final category prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. You use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', and 'Regarding' to guide the reader. However, the progression is cut short due to the incomplete nature of the report. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the transition between the analysis of sodium and saturated fats could be smoother. To improve, ensure that your ideas are fully developed within each paragraph and that you maintain a consistent flow throughout the entire report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounts for', and 'contributes'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'praportion' instead of 'proportion', 'maine' instead of 'main', and 'slighty' instead of 'slightly'. These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for more precise vocabulary and ensure accurate spelling of common academic terms. Expanding your range to include more varied synonyms for 'increase' or 'highest' would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The three pie chart illustrate' (should be plural 'charts' and 'illustrate'), 'at16%' (spacing error), and the lack of capitalization in 'snacks'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they are frequent enough to affect the overall accuracy. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for minor punctuation and spacing slips. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures will also help demonstrate better control.

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

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