Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03
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 illustrate the proportion of typical meals of three nutrients. All of which may be unhealthy if they are eaten too much.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that mostly people eat sodium while taking dinner. While added sugar is the least consumed in dinner. Individual prefers to eat the least amount of sodium in snack and breakfast time. Whereas added sugar is less used in breakfast by the people.
In USA, individuals eat sodium mostly in dinner time, which is accounted for around 43%. While 14% sodium is preferred in snack time. In lunch time, people who take sodium represented around 29%. On the other hand, Saturated fat is less eaten by people in breakfast time which accounted for 16%. However, in dinner time, nutrient is mostly eaten by people that is around 37%.
Added sugar is mostly eaten by people in snacks time which is represented by 42%, while this nutrient is less consumed in breakfast time which is around 16%. In dinner time, there is 23% added sugar eaten by people which is significantly lesser than breakfast.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the charts and provided relevant comparisons. You covered all three nutrients across the four meal categories. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing percentages rather than synthesizing the data into a cohesive summary. For example, stating 'In dinner time, there is 23% added sugar eaten by people' is accurate but lacks a comparative perspective. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping data points more effectively—such as highlighting that dinner is the primary source for sodium and saturated fats, while snacks dominate added sugar intake. The overview is present but could be more analytical regarding the overall trends rather than just repeating data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'While', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by repetitive sentence structures and slightly awkward transitions. For instance, the phrase 'In dinner time, nutrient is mostly eaten by people' is vague and lacks a clear reference to which nutrient is being discussed. Additionally, the use of 'which is represented by' and 'which accounted for' becomes repetitive. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear referencing between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information. You use terms like 'proportion', 'nutrients', and 'consumed' correctly. However, there is a reliance on basic phrasing and some unnatural collocations, such as 'mostly people eat sodium' instead of 'the majority of sodium is consumed'. You also repeat the word 'eaten' frequently. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'constitutes', 'accounts for', 'the highest proportion', or 'a significant minority'. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'eat' and 'percentage' will help you achieve a more sophisticated tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'All of which may be unhealthy' is a sentence fragment. You also have issues with articles and prepositions, such as 'in snack and breakfast time' (should be 'at snack and breakfast times') and 'In USA' (should be 'In the USA'). Subject-verb agreement is sometimes inconsistent, like 'Individual prefers to eat' (should be 'Individuals prefer'). While these errors do not prevent the meaning from being understood, they occur frequently enough to limit your score. Focusing on article usage and pluralization will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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