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 illustrates the average proportion in typical meals of three varieties of nutrients consumed in the USA.
Overall, Dinner meals are dominant when it comes to Sodium and Fat proportion, estimated to be around 43%, and 37% each. The highest added Sugar levels are found in Snacks, which is around 42%. A notable low percentage of all nutrient intake in Breakfast, having ranked the lowest in all categories.
Dinner is ranked first in Sodium and Saturated fat content, whilst Lunch is right behind it with not much difference in percentages.
Snack meals are considered to contain the highest proportion when it comes to Added Sugars, wheras Breakfast is surprisingly the lowest, containing about 16%. Moreover, Breakfast meals score the lowest percentages despite being the most important meal of the day.
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 score. While you have identified the main features of the charts, such as the dominance of dinner for sodium and saturated fats and the high sugar content in snacks, the analysis is quite brief. To improve, you should provide more detailed comparisons between the categories rather than just listing the highest and lowest values. For instance, you could contrast the specific percentages for lunch and dinner more thoroughly. Because the response is under-length, it does not fully develop the information provided in the charts, leading to a lower band score.
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 like 'Overall', 'Moreover', and 'whilst' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is clear, but the final sentence regarding breakfast being the 'most important meal of the day' is an external opinion that is not supported by the data provided in the charts. To reach a higher band, ensure that all statements are directly derived from the visual information and improve the variety of linking words used to connect sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'nutrients', and 'saturated fat' correctly. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'wheras' (whereas) and 'illustrates' (should be 'illustrate' to agree with the plural 'charts'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'highest' or 'lowest' and avoid repetitive phrasing when describing the data points.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The pie charts illustrates') and minor punctuation slips. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You have attempted some complex structures, but they are not always perfectly controlled. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and ensuring consistent verb tense usage will help improve your accuracy. Increasing the variety of complex sentence forms would also help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
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.