Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-29
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 illustrate three types of nutrients added in daily routine meals, whereas one of them might be unhealthy if it consume accessive amount.
Overall, Sodium and Saturated fat constitued by far the largest proportion in dinner, while added sugar were the highest percentage in snacks.
In dinner the proportion of sodium accounted for 43%, whereas saturated fat declined considerably, at 37% In breakfast and snacks salt represented 14% respectively, more then twice of snacks were added in lunch, at 29%. Saturated fat was noticeably the next highest proportion in lunch, at 26% and half of that used in breakfast at 16%. At 16 percent of fat was consumed in snacks.
The 42% of added sugar were used in packet food, whereas, dinner propotionate 23% of sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying key proportions for sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar across different meal times. The overview correctly highlights that sodium and saturated fat peaked at dinner, while added sugar peaked in snacks. However, the data contains some inaccuracies and misinterpretations; for example, the text states that salt represented 14 percent respectively for breakfast and snacks, but then mentions 'more then twice of snacks were added in lunch, at 29%', which is slightly confused. Furthermore, the response mentions 'packet food' for added sugar, which is not stated in the source charts (snack is shown instead). Crucially, the response fails the length requirement, falling significantly short of the 150-word minimum at 128 words, which impacts the overall Task Achievement score.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response has a basic structure with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped and abrupt, particularly with the very short final paragraph. Cohesive devices are attempted ('Overall', 'whereas', 'In dinner'), but referencing is sometimes unclear, and logical progression falters between sentences. For instance, the transition into the third paragraph jumps abruptly between sodium, saturated fat, and snacks without clear guidance for the reader. While there is an overall organizational structure, the mechanical use of cohesive devices and frequent logical awkwardness place this firmly in the Band 6 range.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student attempts some less common vocabulary related to data reporting, such as 'proportion', 'constitued', and 'accounted for'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('constitued', 'accessive', 'propotionate', 'then' instead of 'than') and awkward lexical choices ('added in daily routine meals', 'packet food' instead of 'snacks'). The range is adequate to convey basic meaning, but frequent lexical inaccuracies and spelling slips restrict the score to Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using relative clauses and comparative structures. However, grammatical accuracy is weak. There are frequent errors in verb forms and agreement, such as 'if it consume accessive amount' (should be 'if they are consumed in excessive amounts') and 'added sugar were the highest percentage' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation is also erratic, with missing commas and periods placed awkwardly (e.g., 'at 37% In breakfast'). These frequent errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader.
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