Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-21
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 chart illasuted the average percentage of sodium,saturated fat,added sugar in typical meal consumed by the usa. dinner contains the higest percentage of sodium and saturated fat. snacks have the higest percentage of added sugar. and breakfast have the lowest percentage of three type of nutrients. looking at the sodium dinner has the higest percentage 43%. then the lunch has the second higest 29%. snacks andbreakfast has the same number of percentage 14%. and then looking at saturated fat their is also dinner comes with the higest number of percentage 37%. after the dinner we have lunch with the second higest with the percentage of 26% abd the third higest is 21% at the end breakfast hase with 16%.but in added sugar sacks has the higest percentage 42%.after that the dinner has with 23% and after dinner the lunch with 19% and at the end breakfast wit 16%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
You identify the main patterns accurately: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. The figures you report are also generally correct, including 43% sodium at dinner, 37% saturated fat at dinner, and 42% added sugar in snacks. This gives the response a relevant overview and covers all three nutrients. However, the claim that breakfast has the lowest percentage for all three is not accurate: snacks and breakfast tie for the lowest sodium share, and breakfast is lowest for saturated fat, but not for added sugar. Some comparisons are also less fully explained, such as the close lunch and dinner figures for added sugar. A more precise overview and clearer comparisons would strengthen the report.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The information is presented in a broadly sensible order: you begin with an overview and then discuss sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in turn. This helps the reader follow the chart categories. However, the response is written as one continuous block, so the overview and detailed comparisons are not clearly separated. Linking phrases such as “after that” and “at the end” are repeated and sometimes make the sequence sound mechanical rather than showing meaningful comparisons. For example, the saturated-fat figures would be clearer if grouped directly from dinner to breakfast, with each meal named consistently. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and details, and vary linking language to show contrast, ranking and similarity.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “sodium,” “saturated fat” and “added sugar,” and terms such as “highest” and “second highest” help communicate rankings. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated, particularly “highest percentage” and “at the end.” Some word choices and collocations are unclear, such as “dinner comes with the highest number of percentage” and “snacks have the highest percentage.” Spelling errors—including “illasuted,” “higest,” and “sacks”—also make the writing less fluent and can distract the reader. Aim for concise reporting language such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “followed by,” while checking spelling and using meal names consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
Most of the response relies on simple sentence patterns, and attempts to connect ideas sometimes produce faulty structures. For example, “dinner contains the highest percentage of sodium and saturated fat” is understandable, but “and then looking at the sodium dinner has…” is an incomplete, awkwardly formed clause. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent in “breakfast have” and “snacks and breakfast has,” while articles and sentence boundaries are often missing or misplaced. The frequent run-on presentation, including “42%.after that,” also affects readability. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use full stops and commas to separate comparisons. Greater control of these basics, alongside some accurate complex sentences, would improve clarity.
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.