Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-25

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 piecharts, compare the intake of three kinds of nutrient' percentages namely, sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar, in the U.S, all of which are not good for health if taken too often.

Overall, there are two noticeable things in these charts.Firstly, the consumption of sodium and saturated fat remained highest in dinner.while, the ratio of added sugar was significantly higher in Snack.Secondly, breakfast and Snack had reportdly less quatity of sodium.

Firstly, sodium and saturated fat represented the most significant percentage of 43% and 37% respectively.Similarly, the added sugar had a high share in snacks at 42%.In the contrast, Lunch consisted an almost equal quantity of sodium and saturated fat both are over the quarter, with a percentage of 29% and 26% respectively.

Secondly, sodium accounted for an equal percentage of 14% in snack and breakfast.In addition to that, breakfast had an exact same percentage of sugar and fat(16%). In the meantime, satureted fat had a contribution of 21% in snack.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern accurately: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. You also include several relevant figures, such as 43%, 37% and 42%, and compare lunch’s sodium and fat proportions. This gives the reader a clear general picture. However, some features are less fully reported: the overview could mention that breakfast is the lowest meal for saturated fat and added sugar, and that snack is also the joint-lowest for sodium. The comparison of lunch is described as “almost equal,” but the difference between 29% and 26% could be stated more precisely. Covering these patterns more systematically would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. The sequence from the broad patterns to specific figures is generally understandable, and signposts such as “Overall,” “Firstly” and “Secondly” help show the intended organisation. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical: both detail paragraphs begin with sequencing words, and the information is grouped by repeated “firstly/secondly” framing rather than by a consistently clear comparison of meals or nutrients. Some links are also awkward, as in “In the contrast,” and punctuation spacing makes transitions less smooth. Grouping related figures together and using fewer, more natural connectors would improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “intake,” “percentage,” “accounted for” and “contribution,” and the reader can understand the main comparisons. There is some attempt at variation, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing data: “consumption … remained highest” suggests change over time, while “consisted an almost equal quantity” is not a natural collocation. Spelling errors such as “reportdly,” “quatity” and “satureted” also reduce precision. “Ratio” is less suitable than “proportion” for these percentages. Aim for accurate, conventional reporting phrases and check spelling carefully; this would make the vocabulary more controlled and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the main information is usually understandable. Some grammatical and punctuation errors remain, however. The opening has an unnecessary comma after “piecharts” and an incorrect apostrophe in “nutrient' percentages.” In “Lunch consisted an almost equal quantity,” the verb pattern is incomplete; it needs “consisted of” or a different construction. The sentence “both are over the quarter” also shifts tense and lacks a clear grammatical link to the percentages. Several sentences run together after full stops, for example “charts.Firstly” and “dinner.while.” Review sentence boundaries, articles and verb patterns, while continuing to use a mix of sentence structures.

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