Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05
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 given pie charts illustrates how much is the proportion of three kinds of nutrients in various meals , all of which are not healthy if eaten too much.
After analyzing the pie charts , it is clear that sodium accounted for 14% in snack, and the proportion increased gradually for saturated fat and ended at 42% for added sugar in the same meal. Meanwhile, the content of saturated fat and added sugar was stable in breakfast, while it contains only 14% of sodium.
Moreover, the proportions of sodium and saturated fat in lunch was almost same, however the added sugar had 19% proportions in the lunch. In contrast, dinner contains 43% sodium which was almost doubled in case of added sugar, and the saturated fat comprised 37% of saturated fat in the dinner.
Overall, it is clear that proportions of different nutrients varied in all meals. Snack had maximum proportions of sodium and added sugar , whilst breakfast had the least proportions of saturated fat.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is inconsistent and contains factual inaccuracies. For example, you state that sodium accounted for 14% in snacks, whereas the chart shows 14% for breakfast. Furthermore, you claim dinner contains 43% sodium and that this is 'almost doubled' in the case of added sugar, which is mathematically incorrect based on the provided data. While you attempt to compare the meals, the lack of precision in reporting the data points hinders the overall task achievement. To improve, ensure that you carefully cross-reference the data labels with the corresponding percentages before writing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Moreover', and 'In contrast'. However, the flow of information is sometimes disrupted by inaccurate data reporting, which makes the comparisons difficult to follow. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when you mention 'the same meal' without a clear antecedent. While the structure is generally sound, the mechanical use of these devices and the errors in data interpretation prevent a higher score. Focus on ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one with accurate supporting evidence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'proportion of' and 'the content of' are used frequently. There are also minor collocation issues, such as 'almost same' (should be 'almost the same') and 'doubled in case of' (which is an awkward phrasing). You have attempted to use some academic vocabulary, but the inaccuracies in data reporting suggest a limited ability to use lexical items to describe trends precisely. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase', 'decrease', and 'proportion' would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The given pie charts illustrates') and incorrect article usage ('in snack', 'in the lunch'). There are also punctuation errors, such as unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. To improve, pay closer attention to basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles when referring to specific categories or meals.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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