Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-11
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 provided pie charts illustrates the average proportion of everyday food of three categories of nutrients such as sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in the USA.
Overall, sodium and saturated fat are consumed significantly in the dinners, in contrast to the added sugar in the snacks.
Sodium has a significant proportioon in the dinner with the contribution of 43 percent. Lunch is 29 percent filled by sodium, while both snacks and breakfast are 28 perent of sodium collectively. Saturated fats are approximately similar in the dinner, while a slight low proportion in lunch compared to the sodium. A significant rise in the saturated fat percentage appear as compared to the sodium in the snacks.
Moreover, the added sugar have a dramatic proportion in the salts follwed by the dinner. The ratio of saturated fat and added sugar is similar in the breakfast, but a decrease of added salt is observed in the lunch.
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 covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies. For instance, you state that snacks and breakfast are 28 percent of sodium 'collectively', which is a misinterpretation of the data. Furthermore, the description of added sugar in the final paragraph is confusing, as you refer to 'salts' instead of the nutrient categories provided. While you attempt to make comparisons, the lack of clarity regarding the specific data points hinders the overall task achievement. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe the percentages and clearly distinguish between the three nutrients throughout the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is weak. The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the phrase 'in contrast to' is used, but the comparison that follows is not clearly explained. The referencing is also problematic; in the final paragraph, the mention of 'salts' is confusing because it is unclear if you are referring to sodium or a different category. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that pronouns and references clearly point to the intended data would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of imprecise word choice and spelling errors. Words like 'proportioon' (spelling) and 'perent' (spelling) detract from the quality of the writing. Additionally, the use of 'salts' to describe sugar categories is a significant lexical error that causes confusion. While you attempt to use some academic vocabulary like 'proportion' and 'contribution', the lack of precision in your word choice limits your score. Focusing on accurate terminology and proofreading for spelling errors will help you achieve a higher band score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues, such as 'The provided pie charts illustrates' (should be 'illustrate') and 'the added sugar have' (should be 'has'). There are also awkward phrasings like 'a slight low proportion' and 'a dramatic proportion in the salts'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over complex structures. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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