Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01
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 are illustrating the average percentage of three different nutrients in four different meals in a day US citizens are consuming.
Overall, we are talking amount about Sodium, saturated fat and added sugar people are consuming in their breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.
Firstly, Sodium has the higher percentage of 43% consumption in dinners. Lunch contains 29% sodium, while snack and breakfast has the same amount of sodium which 14% overall.
Additionally, saturated fats also have the higher percentage of 37% in dinner meals and this amount goes down to 26% in lunch. Snack contains 21% of fats and breakfast has the most low percentage of this nutrient with only 16%.
Moreover, USA is consuming high amount of added sugar in snack which 42% and comparatively lower quantity of 23% in their dinner. Lunch contains lesser sweet dishes that's why 19% is the amount of added Sugar in lunch. Added sugar consumption remains constant at 16% just like saturated fat.
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 three nutrients and four meal categories, identifying key features such as the high sodium and saturated fat content in dinner, and the high added sugar in snacks. However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. While you mention the percentages, you could improve by highlighting the most significant trends or contrasts more effectively. For instance, noting that dinner is the most unhealthy meal overall in terms of sodium and saturated fat would provide a stronger overview. The summary is accurate, but the comparison between the categories could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Additionally', and 'Moreover' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is a bit abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the phrase 'we are talking amount about', which is grammatically awkward and disrupts the logical progression. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between the data points would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the data clearly. You use terms like 'nutrient', 'consumption', and 'percentage' correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'most low percentage' (should be 'lowest percentage') and 'lesser sweet dishes' (should be 'fewer sweet items'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary and avoid informal phrasing like 'we are talking amount about'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'The Pie charts are illustrating' (should be 'The pie charts illustrate'), 'snack and breakfast has' (should be 'snacks and breakfast have'), and 'USA is consuming' (should be 'people in the USA consume'). There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the data, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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