Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-16

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 demonstrates the average propotions in typical meals of three types of nutrients, which may have unhealthy affects if eaten too much.

Overall, looking at the four kinds of meal time in the USA, the consumption of sodium and saturated fat shares a large proportion of dinner, meanwhile an added sugar consumption is dominant in a snacks. Also, lunch and breakfast shows almost the same proportion for all three nutrients.

looking at the dinner percentages, the average consumption of sodium and saturated fat is larger with proportion of 43% and 37% respectively. Meanwhile snacks proportion shows intake of sodium and saturated fats average 14% and 21% but the added sugar is dominant with average 42%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main pattern that sodium and saturated fat peak at dinner, while added sugar is highest in snacks, and the figures you give for these comparisons are accurate. However, the report is incomplete: it gives little detail about breakfast and lunch, and does not compare the three nutrients across all four meals. The statement that breakfast and lunch have “almost the same proportion for all three nutrients” is too broad; for example, lunch sodium is 29%, compared with 19% for added sugar. The response also falls short of the required 150 words: 109 words were counted, with eight words copied from the prompt excluded. Add a fuller account of the remaining figures and comparisons to address the task more completely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph focusing on dinner and snacks. This helps the reader follow the main message, and linking expressions such as “Overall” and “Meanwhile” signal relationships between points. However, the progression is limited because the final paragraph repeats the dinner and snack patterns already mentioned in the overview, while breakfast and lunch receive almost no development. Some connections are also awkward, particularly “meanwhile an added sugar consumption,” which makes the contrast less smooth. Develop the body in a clearer sequence—for example, compare dinner and lunch first, then breakfast and snacks—and use references that make each comparison explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “consumption,” “dominant,” and “percentages,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts to vary phrasing, such as “intake” and “average consumption.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “average propotions” contains a spelling error, “unhealthy affects” uses the wrong word, and “snacks proportion” is not a natural phrase. Repetition of “average” and “proportion” also limits flexibility. Aim for precise expressions such as “the share of sodium intake” or “accounted for,” and check spelling and word forms carefully. These improvements would make the comparisons more natural and easier to read.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including an overview sentence with a contrast and a sentence reporting several figures. The main information remains understandable, but some grammatical errors are noticeable. For example, “lunch and breakfast shows” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “the consumption of sodium and saturated fat shares a large proportion of dinner” has an unclear grammatical relationship between the subject and “shares.” The phrase “the average consumption … is larger with proportion of 43%” also lacks a clear comparison structure. Capitalisation is inconsistent, as the paragraph begins with lowercase “looking.” Use direct patterns such as “Dinner accounts for 43% of sodium intake,” and check agreement, articles, and sentence openings.

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.