Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-19

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 three pie charts illustrate the average proportion of three unhealthy nutrients–sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar which consumed during four different meals–breskfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in USA.

Overall, it is clear that dinner accounts for the highest percentage of daily sodium and saturted fat, while the majority of added sugar is consumed during snacks. However, breakfast is consistently the healthiest meal, contributing the lowest percentage across all three categories.

In detail, sodium and saturated fat, dinner is the primary source which shows a consumption of 43% of sodium and 37% of saturated fat. Lunch is the second consumption of 29% sodium and 26% saturated fat. While, snacks are 14% of sodium and 21% of saturated fat respectively.

However, the consumption of added sugar while having breakfast is the least by 16%, similarly in lunch by 19% of added sugar. A major trend which is showed heavily is in dinner and lunch which is 23% of added sugar and 42% followed by lunch respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main pattern accurately: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks account for the most added sugar. Several relevant figures are also reported correctly, including 43% and 37% for dinner and 42% for snack-time sugar. However, coverage is incomplete and some comparisons are unclear. Breakfast’s sodium figure (14%) is omitted, and the final sentence misorders the added-sugar figures: 23% belongs to dinner and 42% to snacks, not “dinner and lunch” respectively. The claim that breakfast is “consistently the healthiest meal” is also too broad, since it is tied to nutrient percentages rather than an overall health assessment. A more complete, precise comparison of all three charts would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and detail paragraphs, and the overview gives the reader a useful guide to the main patterns. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is uneven. The sentence beginning “In detail, sodium and saturated fat” lacks a clear grammatical link, and “While, snacks…” is an incomplete transition. The final paragraph shifts between breakfast, lunch and dinner, then gives the 42% figure with an unclear comparison, making the ending difficult to follow. Linking words such as “However” are repeated without always showing a genuine contrast. Group the figures consistently by nutrient or meal, and use clear references so each percentage is immediately connected to its meal.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “proportion,” “accounts for,” “consumption,” and the names of all three nutrients. This gives the response a suitable descriptive foundation. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “the second consumption,” “the least by 16%,” and “a major trend which is showed heavily.” These expressions make some comparisons less clear. There are also spelling errors in “breskfast” and “saturted,” and “which consumed” is not a natural way to describe the nutrients in meals. Aim for precise chart language such as “the second-largest share,” “the lowest proportion,” and “the figure rises to.” Check spelling and choose collocations that describe percentages directly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a relative clause in “which is showed heavily.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships between figures difficult to understand. For example, the opening sentence has an incomplete clause in “nutrients … which consumed,” while “In detail, sodium and saturated fat, dinner is the primary source” has no sound grammatical connection between its opening phrase and main clause. “While, snacks are…” is also not a complete subordinate construction, and the final sentence has unclear clause structure. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use “while” to connect two complete, parallel comparisons. Punctuation around introductory phrases also needs attention.

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.