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 below illustrate the average proportions of sodium, saturated fats and added sugar in four types of meals used in the USA, these are not healthy if consume too much.

Overall, it can be seen that added sugar represented largest proportion in snack. However saturated fat is highly used in dinner as well as sodium. While all three nutrients are less used in breakfast.

To begin with, use of sodium in breakfast and snack both accounted same percentage each for 14%. 29% sodium is applied in breakfast and 43% in dinner it also the highest ratio where sodium utilized. Moreover 37% saturated fat operated in dinner. in lunch 26% saturated fat applied and 21% in breakfast and 21% in snack.

42% added sugar is consumed in snack by people meanwhile 23% in dinner which is second largest portion where people use added sugar. Furthermore the ratio of added sugar in lunch stood at 19% and 16% in breakfast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying key trends such as the high consumption of added sugar in snacks and sodium in dinner. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that '29% sodium is applied in breakfast', whereas the chart shows 14%. Similarly, you mention '43% in dinner' for sodium, but the chart indicates 43% for dinner sodium. The confusion between categories and values makes the report unreliable. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the labels with the corresponding percentages before writing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'To begin with' and 'Moreover' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is frequently disrupted by the data errors. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between the nutrients and the meals is confusing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used to connect logical ideas rather than just listing data would improve the score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and limited. You frequently use the word 'applied' or 'operated' to describe the presence of nutrients in meals, which is not natural collocation. For example, '37% saturated fat operated in dinner' is incorrect usage. A more appropriate term would be 'accounted for' or 'comprised'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'used' instead of 'consumed'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to data description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('added sugar represented largest proportion'), missing articles ('in snack'), and awkward phrasing ('these are not healthy if consume too much'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences lacking proper capitalization or commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focus on proofreading for basic grammar and ensuring consistent sentence structure.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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