Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 given piecharts illustrates esimated percentages of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar that are utilizesd in snacks, breakfasts, lunch and in dinner in the USA.

overall, sodium and saturated fat nutrients consumed heavily duringg dinners, while added sugar consumed eating snacks. other meals have fluctuations in quantinty of utilizing these nutrients specifically when they are eaten at more than normal.

The percentage of sodium consumtion in snaks and breakfasts were only at 14 percent, while it increases both in lunch and dinner. During dinner it stood at 29 percent, and in dinner it reached to 43 percent.

Saturated fat consumed too much at dinner that was 37 percent, while it was at lowest level in breakfast styed only at 21 percent. In snacks its quantity rose and reached at the levvel of 21 percent. The moderate level was recorded in luch that was 26 percent.

The anount of added sugar was consumed highly and reached at it peak in snacks. furhter in other meals its level fall and recorded as 23 percent, 19 percent and then 16 percent duruing dinner, lunch and breakfast respectively

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern: dinner accounts for the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. You also include several relevant figures, such as 43% for sodium at dinner and 42% for added sugar in snacks. However, some comparisons are unclear or inaccurate: sodium is said to rise to 29% “in dinner” before reaching 43% “in dinner,” although 29% is the lunch figure. For saturated fat, breakfast is described as the lowest at 21%, but it is 16%; 21% belongs to snacks. The overview is relevant but the claim that other meals fluctuate “more than normal” is vague. Check each figure against the chart and summarise the contrasts more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the three nutrients. This makes the information broadly easy to follow, and phrases such as “while” and “further” attempt to show comparisons and sequence. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes confusing, particularly where the sodium paragraph assigns 29% to dinner twice, and the added-sugar figures are listed in reverse meal order without a clear comparison. Some linking is mechanical, and the overview’s final sentence does not clearly connect to the chart’s main patterns. Organise each nutrient’s figures in a consistent order and use explicit comparisons, such as “compared with” or “whereas,” to make relationships clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “peak,” “lowest level,” and “recorded,” so the reader can generally understand the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “nutrients consumed heavily,” “utilizesd,” and “consumed too much,” which do not describe the proportions naturally. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “esimated,” “snaks,” “quantinty,” and “furhter.” These errors sometimes make the wording harder to process. Build a more precise set of reporting expressions—such as “accounted for,” “made up,” and “was highest in”—and proofread spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, including comparisons with “while,” and most of the intended meaning can be recovered. However, errors in sentence structure and verb forms recur. For example, “overall, sodium and saturated fat nutrients consumed heavily” lacks a clear verb construction, while “it increases both in lunch and dinner” shifts tense and has an unclear reference. The sentence beginning “The percentage of sodium…” also uses “were” with a singular subject, and “it reached to 43 percent” has an unnecessary preposition. Capitalisation after full stops is inconsistent. Practise complete subject–verb structures, maintain past tense when reporting the chart, and check agreement and punctuation.

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