Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-08

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)

This pie chart illustrates the consumption of nutrients like sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in typical meals in US.

Consumption of sodium and saturated fat is really high during dinner time as compared to added sugar. Added sugar has higher levels in snacks. Sodium has lowest consumption rate during breakfast and snacks both equal at 14 percent. Saturated fats are also consumed minimum during breakfast same as sodium.

Added sugar same as sodium and saturated fat consumed minimally during breakfast at 16 percent closely followed by lunch at 19 percent.

Added sugar has only 23% consumption rate during dinner time which is really low considering sodium and saturated fat.

As we can see from the chart all these unhealthy nutrients are in high consumption rate in noramal American household. Especially sodium and added sugar take up almost half of the pie chart whereas both these nutrients are really dangerous for health.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important patterns: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. You also report some figures accurately, including sodium at 14% for breakfast and snacks and added sugar at 19% for lunch and 23% for dinner. However, coverage is partial and some comparisons are unclear or inaccurate. Saturated fat is lowest at breakfast (16%), but sodium is not uniquely lowest there because snacks are also 14%; your wording about added sugar being “same as sodium and saturated fat” at breakfast is confusing. The claim that sodium and added sugar each take up “almost half” is not supported as a comparison across meals. A clearer overview and more precise reporting of all three distributions would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from an opening statement to comparisons and a concluding comment, and the reader can identify the main topic. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the second and third paragraphs repeat breakfast as a minimum, and the sentence beginning “Added sugar same as sodium and saturated fat” is difficult to follow. Connections between points are limited, with repeated use of “as” and “during,” while the final health comment shifts away from describing the chart. Organise the body by nutrient or by meal, and use each paragraph to develop a distinct comparison. Clearer referencing and fewer repeated points would make the information easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary such as “consumption,” “levels,” “percent,” and “followed by,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural for describing proportions. “Consumption rate” is repeated, and “high consumption rate” does not clearly distinguish a share of a meal from an overall rate. “Take up almost half of the pie chart” is also an imprecise description of the figures. There are noticeable spelling and word-form issues, including “noramal” and “saturated fats” where the chart label is singular. Aim for more precise terms such as “accounts for,” “proportion,” and “share,” and check spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Most of your sentences communicate a basic comparison, and you attempt longer structures, for example, “Added sugar has only 23% consumption rate during dinner time which is really low considering sodium and saturated fat.” However, sentence patterns are repetitive and some constructions are incomplete or awkward. “Added sugar same as sodium and saturated fat consumed minimally” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “in typical meals in US” is missing an article before “US.” Comparisons also need more controlled phrasing, such as “is lower than the figures for.” Use a wider mix of accurate simple and complex sentences, and check articles, sentence completeness, and punctuation when joining clauses.

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