Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-07

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 illustrate,the share allocation in a meal of three types of nutrients includes sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much in USA

Overall, the proportion varied considerably over the period.while sodium at dinner accounted for the largest share followed by saturated fat at dinner breakfast in all categories represented the smallest proportion.Overall, the overall allocation changed significantly with some categories increasing significantly while other declined.

To begin with sodium at dinner accounted for 43% making it largest category share.This was followed by lunch which represented around 29%.t#Together these two categories made up the majority of the total consumption of sodium .Meanwhile snacks and breakfast constituted approximately 14%.

turning to the remaining categories saturated fat at dinner accounted for 37%.this was followed by lunch which represented 26%.snacks represented 21% and breakfast accounted for 16% only.consumption od added sugars in snacks was recorded 42% whereas at dinner it was added 23%.while breakfast accounted for 16% only lunch represented 19%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report several key figures accurately, including sodium at dinner (43%), lunch (29%), and added sugar in snacks (42%), and you identify dinner as a major source of sodium and saturated fat. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: breakfast is not the smallest share in every category, since snacks are also 14% for sodium and breakfast is not the smallest for added sugar. The statement that proportions changed “over the period” is also unsuitable because the charts compare meal types, not time. Coverage is uneven: the added-sugar figures are included, but their contrast with the other nutrients is not clearly summarised. A more precise overview of the main contrasts would make the response address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation: the response begins with an introduction, gives an overview, and then discusses sodium before the other nutrients. This provides a basic framework for the information. However, progression is weakened by repetition and unclear links. The overview repeats “Overall” and says that categories “increasing” or “declined,” although the chart does not show change over time. The transition “turning to the remaining categories” is broad, and the final sentence moves between added sugar and meal types without a clear comparison. Several sentences run together because full stops and capital letters are missing, while “t#Together” interrupts the flow. Grouping the figures by the most useful comparisons and using clear sentence boundaries would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “proportion,” “accounted for,” “represented,” and “constituted,” and these help describe the chart. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise. “Share allocation in a meal” is an awkward way to introduce the data, while “largest category share” and “consumption of added sugars in snacks was recorded 42%” are not natural collocations. The repeated use of “accounted for” also makes the report sound formulaic. There are noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as “od” for “of,” which can distract the reader. Aim for accurate, natural chart language and vary reporting verbs without sacrificing precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex structures, such as “all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much” and clauses beginning with “while,” but control is inconsistent. The opening has a subject–verb agreement error (“The pie chart illustrate”) and lacks clear sentence punctuation. Other examples include “making it largest category share,” which is missing an article, and “this was followed by lunch which represented 26%,” where punctuation around the relative clause would help. Several sentences begin with lowercase letters or are joined without full stops, making grammatical relationships harder to follow. Most structures are simple, and the more complex attempts are often faulty. Practise accurate sentence boundaries, articles, agreement, and controlled use of subordinate clauses.

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