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 given chart illustrates the comparison between the distribution of the quantity of sodium, saturated fat and sugar in various foods as per their average percentages.
This pie chart is divided into four meals; breakie, lunch, snack and dinner. Sugar has the highest percentage in snacks while sodium has the greatest percentage in dinner. Then when we see along the lunch, sodium is the prevailing entity following down to saturated fat and then sugar respectively. However, when we compare the breakfast with the rest of the times, we can clearly observe that amount of fats and sugar is on the same level while sodium is in less amount in contrast to the lunch and dinner.
All are unhealthy because this much excessive quantities might lead towards hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. By looking at the provided information the daily consumption of sodium is highest in dinner, fats in dinner and sugar in snacks collectively.
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 provides a basic overview of the charts, but it fails to effectively highlight the key features or make meaningful comparisons. While it identifies some trends, such as sugar in snacks and sodium in dinner, the analysis is superficial. The report lacks a clear summary of the data, and the inclusion of external information regarding health consequences (hypertension, diabetes) is irrelevant to an Academic Task 1 report, which should focus strictly on the data provided. To improve, you must focus on grouping data logically and highlighting the most significant differences and similarities rather than listing individual observations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between sentences is often mechanical, and the use of cohesive devices is limited. For example, the phrase 'Then when we see along the lunch' is awkward and does not effectively guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is present, but the ideas within the paragraphs are not well-linked, making the overall flow feel disjointed. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'highest', 'greatest', and 'amount'. There are also some informal or imprecise word choices, such as 'breakie' (which is inappropriate for an academic task) and 'prevailing entity'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends and data, such as 'predominant', 'account for', or 'fluctuate'. Additionally, ensure that your tone remains formal throughout the entire response by avoiding colloquialisms.
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. Examples include 'sodium is in less amount in contrast to the lunch' and 'following down to saturated fat'. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and more accurate preposition usage will help improve your grammatical accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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