Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-09
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 below depict the average proportions in typical meals of three types of nutrients (sodium, saturated fat and Added sugar) which might be unhygienic if consumed too much.
Overall, Dinner is the meal which holds the largest percentages of sodium and saturated fat while breakfast accounted for least proportion of all three nutrients in daily meal.
The percentage of sodium in dinner was more than saturated fat and added sugar (37% and 23% respectively). In addition, the quantity of sodium in the breakfast was 14% in comparison of the percentages of saturated fat and Added sugar 16% each.
Although, the percentage of Added sugar in snacks was 42% which is mainly more than the combine percentages of snacks containing Sodium and Saturated fat (14% and 21% respectively). furthermore, the proportion of sodium in lunch was recorded to 29% following 26% of Saturated fat alongside 19% of Added sugar in daily meal of nutrients.
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 covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features and making relevant comparisons. You successfully highlighted the dominance of dinner for sodium and saturated fat, and the high sugar content in snacks. However, the analysis is slightly hampered by inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, you stated that sodium in dinner was 37% and saturated fat was 23%, but the chart shows 43% and 37% respectively. Additionally, the statement that breakfast accounted for the least proportion of all three nutrients is not entirely accurate, as the charts show varying distributions. To improve, ensure that data points are transcribed precisely from the visuals to support your comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', and 'Although' to link sentences. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'in comparison of the percentages' and 'following 26% of Saturated fat'. The paragraphing is functional, but the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that referencing between sentences is clear and precise.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'nutrients', and 'consumed'. However, there are some word choice errors and inaccuracies, such as 'unhygienic' (which is not the correct term for unhealthy food) and 'mainly more than' (which is not a standard collocation). The repetition of 'percentage' and 'proportion' also limits the sophistication of your writing. To improve, try to use more precise academic vocabulary and avoid repeating the same nouns. Ensure that you use words in their correct context to convey your meaning accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the 'Although' clause at the beginning of the fourth paragraph. However, there are several grammatical errors, including issues with articles ('the breakfast', 'the dinner'), prepositions ('in comparison of'), and verb tense/agreement ('accounted for least proportion'). Some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as 'the proportion of sodium in lunch was recorded to 29% following 26% of Saturated fat'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall flow. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition 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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