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 compare the amount of sodium , saturated fat and sugar which might be harmful for health if eat these ecceed in America .
In general , it can be seen that the highest amount of sodium and saturated fat eat at dinner while sugar most uses in snacks .
According to the pie chart , the largest amount of sodium use in dinner and lunch around 43% and 29% respectively . It comprieses similar proportion to breakfast and snacks at 14% .
The proportion of saturat fat compries the highest at 37% in dinner while the lowest proportion in breakfast in 14% . In terms of snacks and lunch relatively similar at 21% and 26% each .
Regarding sugar , it largest amount of snacks around 42% whereas breakfast use comparatively lowest to 16% . The percentages of lunch and dinner eat 19% and 23% respectively .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all three nutrients and provides a clear overview of the main trends. You successfully identified that dinner is the primary source for sodium and saturated fat, while snacks are the main source for sugar. However, the report lacks a more analytical approach to the data. For instance, you list percentages without fully synthesizing the comparisons between the categories. To reach a higher band, ensure you highlight the most significant differences or similarities rather than simply listing the figures for each meal type. The information is accurate based on the charts provided, but the development of the main features could be more sophisticated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In general', 'According to', and 'Regarding', to transition between ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by repetitive sentence structures and some awkward phrasing. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'It comprieses similar proportion to breakfast and snacks', where the connection to the previous data point is slightly disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information. You use terms like 'proportion', 'respectively', and 'comparatively' effectively. However, there are several spelling errors ('comprieses' instead of 'comprises', 'saturat' instead of 'saturated', 'ecceed' instead of 'exceed') and some unnatural collocations, such as 'sugar most uses in snacks'. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensure you proofread for spelling accuracy. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'amount' or 'proportion' would also help demonstrate a more flexible command of language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempts at complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the clarity of your writing. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the largest amount of sodium use in dinner') and missing articles or prepositions ('the lowest proportion in breakfast in 14%'). Additionally, some sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'sugar most uses in snacks'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement will lead to significant improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.