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 triple pie charts illustrates the proportion of three types of nutrients taken by the people of United States, which also state harmful effects of these nutrients if taken in over quantity.

Overall, the quantity of sodium and sugar in dinner and snack are considerably highest, while sodium contributed a least amount of nutrients over its counterparts.

The amount if saturated fat and sugar are found constant in breakfast at 16% while the quantity of sodium in morning meals is relatively 2% less than them. Notably, Snacks comprised saturated fat at 21% in meals and the amount of added sugar in snacks is almost double than fat.

Snacks provide 14% sodium which stated it a lowest category among all parts. Although Dinner Proposed large quantity of sodium and fat at 43% and 37% respectively, 23% of sugar taken by the people of US by dinner which is least number among dinner. Lunch gives almost 29% sodium and saturated fat to US masses whereas 19% sugar contribute to lunch.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important patterns, including dinner’s high sodium and saturated-fat shares and the 42% of added sugar consumed in snacks. You also report many figures accurately. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: “sodium and sugar in dinner and snack are considerably highest” does not distinguish that sodium peaks at dinner, whereas added sugar peaks in snacks. The claim that sodium contributes “a least amount” is also too broad, since it is not the lowest category at lunch or dinner. Some comparisons are imprecise, such as saying snack sugar is “almost double” saturated fat (42% versus 21%, exactly twice). A clearer overview and more precise comparisons would make the main features easier to understand.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about breakfast, snacks, dinner and lunch. This gives the reader some organisation, and words such as “Overall,” “Notably” and “Although” attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph makes a broad comparison, while later paragraphs revisit the same meal categories without a systematic order. Some links are inaccurate or awkward, particularly “Although Dinner Proposed…” and “which stated it a lowest category,” so the relationships between ideas are difficult to follow. Organise the details by meal or nutrient, and use straightforward comparisons to create a clearer sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “proportion,” “saturated fat,” “comprised” and “contributed,” and you attempt to vary your wording rather than repeat the chart labels throughout. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural and sometimes obscure meaning: “over quantity,” “constant in breakfast,” “Dinner Proposed large quantity,” and “least number among dinner.” “Masses” is also an unsuitable way to refer to the US population in this context. The range is sufficient to communicate some comparisons, but control of collocation and precise chart language is inconsistent. Prefer familiar, accurate expressions such as “accounted for,” “was highest,” and “the lowest share.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “Although” and a relative clause beginning “which.” However, errors are frequent and sometimes make the intended relationships hard to interpret. For example, “The triple pie charts illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “the quantity of sodium and sugar in dinner and snack are” has an unclear subject and agreement. Other problems include “the amount if saturated fat,” “sugar taken by the people … by dinner,” and inconsistent capitalisation of “Dinner.” Sentence boundaries and clause construction also need attention. Build accuracy first with clear subject–verb patterns, then add comparisons using correctly formed clauses.

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