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 visual prompt consists of three pie charts that illustrates the percentage breakdown of three kinds of nutrients in typical meals consumed in USA. All the three pie charts have four segments.
On one hand, a close look at the pie chart revealed that all the three kinds of nutrients show a negligible change taken in two meals: breakfast and lunch. While percentage in breakfast remain almost similar, the lunch shows a decline of 7% from saturated fat to added sugar.
On the other hand, an even closer look at the pie charts presents that the percentage of nutrients depicts a significant change in other two meals: snack and dinner. The snack have 14% of the sodium, whereas it increased substantially in added sugar with a percentage of 42.
Overall,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. While you have identified the topic and attempted to select some main features, the analysis is incomplete. You have not provided a comprehensive overview of the data, and the description of the charts is fragmented. Several key data points are missing, and the comparison between the three nutrients across all four meal types is not fully developed. To improve, ensure you cover all categories (sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars) and all meal types (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks) to provide a complete summary of the information presented.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the structure is underdeveloped. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On one hand' and 'On the other hand' is mechanical and does not effectively link the ideas. Furthermore, the response ends abruptly with 'Overall,' which is a major issue in terms of coherence and task completion. The logical progression is hindered by the lack of a concluding summary and the incomplete nature of the body paragraphs. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your comparisons more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'change' and 'similar' repeatedly. While you attempt to use some specific vocabulary such as 'negligible' and 'substantially,' the overall range is limited. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'the percentage in breakfast remain' (should be 'remains') and 'the snack have' (should be 'snacks have'). To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuate,' 'proportion,' or 'account for.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. For example, 'the percentage of nutrients depicts a significant change in other two meals' is missing an article ('the other two'). Subject-verb agreement errors are present, such as 'the snack have' and 'the charts... illustrates' (should be 'illustrate'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete final sentence is a significant error. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and ensure all sentences are complete and grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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