Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-16

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 chart illustrates the percentages of sodium, saturated fat and sugar in our daily diet, all three categories of nutrients are dangerous for our health, if it is used in execssive amount. The percentage data of those nutrients presents in the USA.

Overall, the percentages of all types nutrients shows a higher proportion in dinner. Breakfast contains a minor percentage of all nutrients. While, snack and lunch presents fluctuation.

Initially, snack and breakfast accounts for 14% sodium. Furthermore,lunch contain 29% sodium and dinner shows a higher percentage approximately 43%. In the saturated fat, dinner shows 37% percentage. Lunch also reach to the specific percentage 26% and breakfast also contain 16%. Finally, snack has 21% of saturated fat.

Then, added sugar contain a high proportion in snack about 42% and breakfast reach to 16%. Dinner has 23% of added sugar. After that, lunch accounts for 19%. These proportions of nutrients consume by consumerism in the USA.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the three charts, accurately identifying dinner as the peak time for sodium and saturated fat, and snacks for added sugar. The overview touches upon the main trends, noting that dinner shows higher proportions and breakfast is generally lower. However, some data reporting is slightly disjointed or lacks precise integration, and there are minor inaccuracies in naming categories (e.g., calling them nutrients in our daily diet rather than in typical meals). Nevertheless, the response successfully fulfills the core requirements of Academic Task 1 by selecting and reporting the key features and making relevant comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement, attempting to group information logically by nutrient category and mealtime. Paragraphing is used, though the body paragraphs are somewhat fragmented and lack smooth transitions. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively (e.g., 'Initially', 'Furthermore', 'Then', 'After that'), creating a somewhat mechanical flow. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas feels disjointed in places, preventing the response from reaching a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The lexical range is adequate for the task, allowing the student to discuss percentages, nutrients, and meal types. However, there are noticeable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'execssive amount', 'presents fluctuation', and 'consume by consumerism'. Spelling errors such as 'execssive' and 'presents' (used instead of present) also occur. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they restrict the lexical score to a Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'While, snack and lunch presents fluctuation' and 'Although these proportions...'. There are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'snack and breakfast accounts', 'lunch contain', 'added sugar contain') and incorrect prepositions or verb forms ('reach to the specific percentage'). These errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, though the core meaning usually remains discernible.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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