Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28
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 proportions of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Overall, sodium and saturated fat make up the largest percentage in dinner, while added sugar found largest in snack.
Sodium and saturated fat found in dinner more than other meals, 43% and 37% respectively, followed by lunch, which these ingredients constitute 29% for saturated fat and just over a quarter (26%) for lunch. In addition, both of them are almost equal in breakfast meal, 16% standing for saturated fat and 14% for sodium. However, in snack saturated fat comprise 21% in snack, while sodium represent only 14%.
By conrast, add sugar found highly in snack, at 42%, which is followed by 23% in dinner. while it only represent 19% in lunch, this ingredient is 16% in breakfast, making it the least meal contain sugar.
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 covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features of the three nutrients across the four meal types. You successfully highlight the key trends, such as dinner being the primary source for sodium and saturated fats, and snacks being the main source for added sugars. However, the report could be improved by ensuring data accuracy; for example, you mention '29% for saturated fat and just over a quarter (26%) for lunch', but the charts show 29% for saturated fat and 26% for sodium. Additionally, the comparison between meals could be more precise to better highlight the 'main features' as requested.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear overall progression. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'By contrast' to link ideas. However, the use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'followed by lunch, which these ingredients constitute 29% for saturated fat and just over a quarter (26%) for lunch', where the phrasing is clunky and repetitive. Improving the flow between sentences and using a wider variety of cohesive devices would help elevate the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the data effectively. You use terms like 'proportions', 'constitute', and 'respectively' correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'making it the least meal contain sugar' (should be 'the meal containing the least sugar') and 'add sugar found highly' (should be 'added sugar is found in high proportions'). Expanding your range of vocabulary to include more precise descriptors for trends and data would improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder clarity. Examples include missing auxiliary verbs ('Sodium and saturated fat found in dinner' instead of 'are found') and incorrect preposition usage ('in snack' instead of 'in snacks'). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'saturated fat comprise 21%'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and verb forms will lead to significant improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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