Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02

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 combination of pie charts illustrates the information about average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA.

At a fleeting glance, the highest nutrient of the chart is sodium, 43% of sodium is consumed in dinner. Followed by, 42% of added sugar is in snack. However, the lowest element of the chart is sodium, 14% in snack and breakfast. Also, the proportion of lunch in sodium, saturated fat and added sugar is 29, 26 and 19, respectively.

Moving further, the consumption of saturated fat and added sugar is same during break, 16%.

Moreover, the proportion of lunch is 21% in saturated fat, which is doubled in added sugar, 42%. Furthermore, the difference between percentage of saturated fat and added sugar is of 14% in dinner, in which the proportion is 37 and 23, orderly.

Overall, the highest element consumed during dinner, as well as lowest during breakfast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview. While you identified some key data points, such as the highest sodium consumption in dinner, the reporting of figures is often disjointed. For example, the comparison of lunch percentages (29, 26, and 19) is presented as a list rather than an integrated comparison. To improve, ensure you group data logically and provide a more cohesive summary of the trends rather than just listing individual percentages. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not effectively synthesize the overall findings.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression between sentences is often weak. Phrases like 'Moving further' and 'Moreover' are used, but they do not always connect the ideas effectively. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'the consumption of saturated fat and added sugar is same during break', where 'break' is likely a misinterpretation of the data labels. Additionally, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, which hinders the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'highest', 'lowest', and 'proportion'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'at a fleeting glance' (which is not appropriate for an academic report) and 'orderly' (which is misused here). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns, such as 'account for', 'constitute', 'a significant portion', or 'a marginal difference'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('the highest nutrient of the chart'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction ('the difference between percentage of saturated fat and added sugar is of 14%'). There are also punctuation errors, such as the comma splice in 'Followed by, 42% of added sugar is in snack.' These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly difficult to follow, though the overall message remains understandable.

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

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