Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-25
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 pie charts demonstrate concentration of average amount of three types of nutrients consumed in the USA , all of which may be unhealthy if taken in a large quantity.
Overall, it can be seen that intake of sodium is highest followed by saturated fat in dinner, whereas, the largest amount of sugar is eaten in form of snacks follwed by the quanitity of saturated fat at second number while sodium at the third position. Furthermore,breakfast contains same amount of both sugar and saturated fat, while having more sodium. In case of lunch, sodium remains higher than other two nutrients.
From the given diagrans, it can be observed that people in the USA consume almost 42 percent of sugar in dinner, while in lunch and breakfast they take 21 and 14 percent of saturated fat and sodium respectively.
Moving further, sodium holds 43 percent of whole nutrients at the time of dinner, while gives 29 percent of total nutrition at the time of lunch. However, it provides only 14 percent of nutrients in the breakfast.
Lastly, sugar and saturated fat play equal role in breakfast, each gives 16 percent of whole energy.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the charts regarding the three nutrients. However, there is a major factual error in the third paragraph: the student states that people in the USA consume '42 percent of sugar in dinner', whereas the data clearly shows that 42 percent represents added sugar consumed as 'snacks'. Furthermore, '21 and 14 percent of saturated fat and sodium respectively' are misattributed to lunch and breakfast in that same sentence (saturated fat in snacks is 21%, while sodium in breakfast is 14%). Because of these notable data misinterpretations, the response fails to accurately present all key features, capping the task achievement score at Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response is organized into paragraphs with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the logical progression is flawed due to confusing data references. While cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Furthermore', and 'Moving further' are attempted, referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'whole nutrients' or 'total nutrition'). Paragraphing is present, but the body paragraphs are somewhat disjointed and repetitive in how they handle the percentages. Cohesion can be mechanical and awkward in places, justifying a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate vocabulary range appropriate for describing chart data, including words like 'concentration', 'intake', and 'nutrient'. However, there are notable lexical and collocation errors, such as 'follwed by the quanitity', 'at second number', and 'diagrans'. Spelling errors ('diagrans', 'follwed', 'quanitity') and unnatural phrasing ('eat in form of snacks', 'holds 43 percent of whole nutrients') limit the score. The vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the general message, resulting in a Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'while having more sodium' and 'it can be seen that intake of sodium is highest'. However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are missing articles (e.g., 'in dinner', 'in breakfast', 'in lunch'), incorrect prepositions, and awkward phrasing ('while gives 29 percent'). Errors in punctuation and sentence construction occur frequently, although they rarely impede overall communication. This performance aligns well with the Band 5.5 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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