Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-01
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 the average ratio in typical meals of three types of nutrients (Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar) consumed in the USA which are unhealthy if taken too much.
Overall, there are four types of meals consumed by the citizens of USA in which sodium and sugar have been using greater proportion than saturated fat.The highest amounts of sodium and saturated fat have been taken in dinner time which 43% and 37% respectively. On the other hand, people are consuming sugar mostly in their snacks time, 42%. However, the use of these three nutrients are lowest in the morning, 14%, 16%, and 16% in that order.
In regards of sodium, the percentage reaches a peak of 43% in dinner while 14% in the snack and breakfast time. In additioan, the maximum amount of saturated fat has been using as dinner, 37% and the least amount in the morning meal (16%).
Furthermore, US residents are adding sugar mostly in their snacks items which is 42%, an alarming rate for health whereas 16% for breakfast as the lowest figure.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the charts and making relevant comparisons. An overview is successfully presented in the second paragraph, capturing general trends such as the peak of dinner consumption for sodium and saturated fat, and snacks for added sugar. However, some parts of the task are developed more fully than others. While the highest and lowest figures are highlighted, several intermediate details are omitted or generalized, reflecting a typical performance where key features are selected but not fully extended across all categories. The data points cited, such as 43% for sodium at dinner and 42% for sugar in snacks, are accurate according to the source material.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt to group information logically by meal type and nutrient category. Paragraphing is utilized to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. However, progression is sometimes hindered by mechanical or faulty cohesion, such as the abrupt transition in the second paragraph without proper linking ('The highest amounts... On the other hand...'). Referencing and substitution are occasionally repetitive or unclear, such as the awkward phrase 'in that order' applied to mixed categories, and sentences that lack smooth logical connectors to guide the reader seamlessly through the comparisons.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate to communicate the basic meaning of the data, attempting less common items such as 'proportion', 'maximum amount', and 'alarming rate'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word form throughout the text. Examples include 'ratio' instead of 'proportion' or 'percentage', 'have been using' instead of 'have been consumed', 'dinner time' rather than 'dinner', and 'in regards of' instead of 'regarding' or 'with regard to'. Additionally, spelling slips such as 'additioan' occur. These lexical errors and awkward collocations reflect a limited control of less common vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writing displays a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, demonstrating an attempt at varied structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward syntactic patterns that occasionally cause strain for the reader. Issues include incorrect passive and active voice pairings (e.g., 'sodium and sugar have been using greater proportion', 'saturated fat has been using as dinner'), missing or incorrect prepositions, and awkward phrasing in comparative structures. While meaning is generally conveyed, the control over grammatical patterns and verb tense consistency remains limited, preventing the text from reaching a higher level of accuracy.
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.