Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-11

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)

There are three pie chart which represent the average percentage of three types of nutrients in typical meals in the USA. All these nutrients may be unhealthy if consumed in excess amount. So, let's summarise it.

The first chart is of sodium, the highest percentage of sodium is consumed in dinner which is 43% and then 29% of it is taken in lunch and the minimum amount is 14% which is taken in both the breakfast and in snacks. Then the second chart is about saturated fat and it is also taken in 4 proportions, maximum of it is also consumed during dinner which is 37% of total. Then during lunch it's 26%, in snacks it is 21%, and the minimum is taken in breakfast which is 16% of total consumption.

The last nutrient is added sugar which is usually consumed during snacks which is 42% of total, then in dinner it's 23%, in lunch it's 19% and at the end it's 16% in breakfast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You report the main figures accurately: dinner is highest for sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), while snacks account for the largest share of added sugar (42%). You also include the meal-by-meal values, so the reader can follow the data. However, the response is mainly a sequence of chart descriptions rather than a clear summary of the most important overall patterns. It would be stronger with a concise overview that compares the nutrients—for example, dinner leads for sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks lead for sugar—and with a little more emphasis on contrasts such as breakfast being the lowest for all three. The opening repeats the task context rather than establishing these key features, leaving the main summary under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information is arranged in a sensible order, moving from sodium to saturated fat and then added sugar, and the repeated use of “then” helps signal the sequence of figures. Separate paragraphs also make the nutrient groups easy to distinguish. However, the response reads somewhat mechanically because each chart is reported in turn without an overview to guide the reader through the comparisons. Phrases such as “The first chart,” “the second chart,” and “The last nutrient” provide basic links, but there is little cross-chart comparison. A brief overview followed by grouped details would create clearer progression, and more varied linking language could make the relationships between the figures more explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing proportions, including “highest percentage,” “maximum,” “minimum,” and “total consumption,” and the meaning is generally clear. However, the range is limited and some expressions are repetitive or imprecise. For example, “taken” is used several times to describe nutrient intake, and “in 4 proportions” is not a natural way to introduce the meal categories. “Consumed” or “accounted for” would be more suitable, depending on the sentence. The phrase “in excess amount” is also awkward, while “in excess” is concise and natural. Aim to use a wider set of accurate chart-description terms and avoid repeating the same wording for each meal and nutrient.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, and most of the data remains understandable. However, some grammatical errors and awkward constructions limit accuracy. The opening “There are three pie chart” has a plural agreement error; it should be “There are three pie charts.” In “the highest percentage of sodium is consumed in dinner,” the article and preposition pattern are not well controlled; “at dinner” is more appropriate. The sentence beginning “Then the second chart is about saturated fat and it is also taken in 4 proportions” joins ideas loosely and would be clearer if divided or restructured. There is also a run-on feel in several long lists. Practise accurate plural forms, articles, and sentence boundaries while varying sentence structures.

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