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 piecharts illustrate the average proportions of sodium, saturated fat and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA. The figures are given in a percentage form.

Overall, it is clear that the consumption of sodium in dinner accounted for the largest proportion. While breakfast represented the smallest share as compared to all types of meals.The major difference of percentage is shown in snack.

In the first chart, the proportion of sodium is very much in dinnner with the percent of 43. While lunch has the moderate usage of sodium with 29 percent. Both snack and breakfast has the same percentage (14). Followed by the same pattern of first chart, dinner contains the largest number of saturated fat with 37 percent. Lunch contains 26 percent, snack is slightly lower than lunch with 21% and breakfast is 16%.

In the last chart, the snack contains the higher share of added sugar with the percent of 42. While dinner has the 23 percent of sugar. Both lunch and breakfast has the least fraction of sugar (19 and 16) percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover all three nutrients and identify the main contrasts: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. The figures you report are generally accurate, including the equal 14% shares for sodium at breakfast and snacks. Your overview also recognises the prominence of dinner and the distinctive snack result. However, the claim that breakfast is the smallest share “as compared to all types of meals” is too broad: breakfast is not the smallest for added sugar, where it is close to lunch, and snacks are lowest for sodium. The overview could compare the patterns across all three charts more precisely, and the final chart’s breakfast and lunch figures are not clearly assigned to their respective meals. This gives the response solid coverage, with some features less fully or clearly reported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the first two charts and the final chart. This helps the reader follow the sequence of information. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes weakened by sentence fragments and abrupt links, such as “While breakfast represented the smallest share…” and “While dinner has the 23 percent of sugar.” The repeated “In the first chart” and “In the last chart” provide basic signposting, but the comparisons are not always connected smoothly. The overview’s “major difference” is also not explained until later. Use complete sentences and organise the overview around the key contrasts, then group the supporting figures in a consistent order.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing charts, including “proportions,” “largest proportion,” “share,” and “percentage,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, some choices are imprecise or unnatural for data reporting: “very much in dinner,” “moderate usage,” “largest number,” and “least fraction” do not describe percentages idiomatically. “The major difference of percentage is shown in snack” is also vague and does not specify the contrast. There is some repetition of “contains” and “percentage,” while the misspelling “dinnner” reduces accuracy. Aim for precise reporting verbs and collocations such as “accounted for,” “stood at,” and “the highest proportion”; check spelling and avoid using “number” for a percentage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentence forms, including contrasts introduced by “While” and comparisons using “Followed by the same pattern.” However, these attempts are often faulty: “While breakfast represented the smallest share…” and “While dinner has the 23 percent of sugar” are dependent clauses presented as complete sentences. Subject–verb agreement is also inconsistent in “Both snack and breakfast has” and “Both lunch and breakfast has.” Other problems include article use in “with the percent of 43” and sentence construction in “Followed by the same pattern of first chart.” These errors sometimes make relationships between figures less clear. Practise complete clauses, agreement with plural subjects, and accurate article use, while retaining a mix of simple and complex sentences.

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