Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-30
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 proportion of three different types of typical meals of nutrients, it is may be unhealthy if eaten excessively.
Overall, dinner meal recorded the highest proportion of sodium, while breakfast and snack had the lowest percentage of sodium. dinner experienced the largest proportion of saturated fat, whereas breakfast had the smallest figure. However, In added sugar category snack had the biggest share of added sugar.
To begin with, dinner recorded the highest share of sodium at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%. Snack and breakfast had the smallest share of sodium and both consumption was 14%. Furthermore, dinner contain highest level of saturated fat stood at 37%, while lunch recorded second biggest share at 26%.
Turning to the next details, snack accounted for 42%, whereas dinner meal contain highest sugar which people consuming every evening at 23%. In addition lunch and breakfast had the lowest share of added sugar at 19% and 16%.
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 all parts of the task by identifying the main features of the three charts. You successfully highlight key comparisons, such as dinner having the highest sodium and saturated fat, and snacks leading in added sugar. However, the overview is slightly disjointed, and there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that 'snack accounted for 42%' for added sugar, but the chart shows this for snacks, while your description of dinner's sugar content is slightly confusing. To improve, ensure that data points are clearly linked to the correct category and nutrient to avoid ambiguity for the reader.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'To begin with', and 'Furthermore' to transition between ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some sentences lack clear logical progression. For example, the transition 'Turning to the next details' is a bit abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the nutrient and the meal type becomes muddled. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear subject-verb agreement would enhance the overall cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'excessively', and 'accounted for'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'dinner meal recorded' and 'both consumption was 14%'. These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring that your vocabulary is used in the correct grammatical context. Avoid repeating the same structures when describing percentages.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('dinner meal recorded', 'dinner contain'), missing articles ('In added sugar category'), and punctuation errors. While these errors rarely prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, pay closer attention to verb tenses and pluralization. Ensure that your sentences are grammatically complete and that you proofread for basic errors in subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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