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 average percentages consumed in meals of three types of nutrients mainly Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
To begin with, sodium when eaten in dinner is considered very unhealthy and shares of proportion of 43%, followed by lunch with 29%; whereas snal and breakfast has the equal share of 14%. Furthermore, Saturated fat consumed in dinner is also considered unhealthy which has the percentage of 37, followed by lunch with 26%, breakfast with 16% which is relatively less and snacks with 21%. Moreover, Added sugar when taken in the form of snack is unhealthy with 42%, followed by dinner with 23%, and lunch with 19%. However, breakfast is least unhealthy with 16% share.
Overall, with all the clear perspective sodium, saturated far and added sugar are proved to be unhealthy when consumed in high quantity.
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 addresses the task by summarizing the three charts. You have identified the main features, such as the highest percentages for each nutrient (sodium in dinner, saturated fat in dinner, and added sugar in snacks). However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the trends. While you mention the data, you do not effectively compare the nutrients across the different meal types. To improve, ensure you group information logically rather than listing data point by point. The conclusion provided is a general statement about health rather than a synthesis of the data trends, which is required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is a standard structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas within the second paragraph is somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on a list-like structure. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'snal' (likely a typo for snack) and the abrupt transition between the data points. To improve, focus on using more varied cohesive devices and ensuring that the logical flow between sentences is smoother and less repetitive.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. You use basic terms like 'unhealthy', 'shares', and 'percentage'. There are also some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'snal' instead of 'snack' and 'saturated far' instead of 'saturated fat'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary to describe data, such as 'constitute', 'account for', or 'predominate'. The current vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'shares of proportion of 43%' (incorrect preposition/article usage) and 'breakfast has the equal share' (should be 'an equal share'). Additionally, there are punctuation and phrasing issues, such as 'with all the clear perspective sodium, saturated far and added sugar are proved to be unhealthy'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article 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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