Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-27
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 provided pie charts illustrates the average percentage of consumed nutrients in the USA. Consumed nutrients are sodium, saturated fat and added sugar during the four meals of the day, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack.
In first meal of the day (breakfast) all three nutrients consumed in similar amount. Pir charts clears that sugar consumed on high ration in snack. On contrary, saturated fat and sodium were consumed highly during the last meal of the day (dinner).
All three nutrients shared similar percentage ratio for lunch, 29% for sodium, 26% for saturated fat and 19% for sugar. Nutrients consumption ratio for breakfast was includes 14% sodium and 16% for both saturated fat and added sugar.
In snack sodium and saturated fat's ratio was 14% and 21% which was lower then third nutrient, sugar was consumed at 42% in snack. On contrary, sugar was consumed lesser in dinner by 23% and sodium and saturated fat were highly consumed by 43% and 37%.
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
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the key trends for each nutrient across the four meal categories. You successfully highlight the high sugar content in snacks and the dominance of sodium and saturated fats in dinner. However, the overview is somewhat weak; while you mention the nutrients, a more cohesive summary of the overall trends would improve the score. Some data points are presented accurately, but the description of the breakfast nutrients is slightly confusing as you state they are consumed in 'similar amounts' but then provide different percentages. To improve, ensure your overview clearly synthesizes the most significant differences rather than just listing data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the phrase 'On contrary' is used twice, but it is grammatically incorrect (it should be 'On the contrary'). The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, making the flow feel a bit disjointed. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases more naturally to connect your ideas and improve the logical progression of your report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information about percentages and nutrients. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'Pir charts clears that' instead of 'The pie charts show that' and 'consumed on high ration' instead of 'consumed in high proportions'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repeating the same verbs or nouns throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'In first meal'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'The provided pie charts illustrates'), and incorrect preposition usage. Additionally, there are issues with sentence construction, such as 'Nutrients consumption ratio for breakfast was includes 14%'. These errors are noticeable throughout the text. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly subject-verb agreement and article usage, will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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