Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-26

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 pie charts illustretes the proportion of the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients such as Sodium, Saturated fat, and added sugar consumed in the USA, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much

According to the nutrients of sodium, the highest consumed in dinner approximately at 43%. While 29% of sodium use in lunch time. Meanwhile, in snack and breakfast consumed around at 14% only.

consumed Saturated fat, the larger amount of fat consumed during 37%. In addition, 26% of fat used in during lunch. Furthermore, 16% and 21% fat consumed by breackfast and snack.

As per added sugar, almost the half part of consumed snack around 42%. while the dinner around 23% have added sugar. luch and breackfast have an almost similare part of added sugar approximately 19% and 16% respectively.

Overall, althought the highest percentage of sodiume and saturated fat are consumed in meal at dinner time and less in breakfast time. While, Added sugar consumed more in snack.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main pattern: sodium and saturated fat peak at dinner, while added sugar is highest in snacks, and most figures are reported accurately. However, the response is short of the required 150 words, with 147 words counted after excluding copied prompt wording. The overview is also placed at the end and is not fully precise: breakfast is the lowest meal for sodium, but snacks and breakfast are equal at 14%; for saturated fat, breakfast is lowest. Some details are unclear, such as “the larger amount of fat consumed during 37%.” To strengthen the report, give a clear overview near the beginning and describe each chart’s comparisons in complete, precise statements.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from sodium to saturated fat and then added sugar, with an overall summary at the end. This makes the information broadly easy to follow. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical: “In addition,” “Furthermore,” and “Meanwhile” introduce figures without always clarifying how they relate. The opening overview would work better before the detail paragraphs, and the final overview repeats information already given rather than synthesising it clearly. Some sentence fragments, such as “While 29% of sodium use in lunch time,” also interrupt the flow. Use complete sentences and organise the report as an introduction, a concise overview, and logically grouped comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentage,” “consumed,” and the nutrient names, so the reader can generally understand the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive. Phrases such as “the highest consumed,” “fat used in during lunch,” and “the half part” do not express the comparisons naturally. There are also spelling errors, including “illustretes,” “breackfast,” “luch,” and “similare,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise reporting language such as “accounted for,” “was highest,” and “represented,” and check spelling carefully. Avoid repeating “consumed” when a more suitable verb can describe the share of each nutrient.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer structures, including “all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much,” and uses basic comparison clauses. However, the range is limited, and errors in sentence construction frequently make statements awkward or incomplete. For example, “While 29% of sodium use in lunch time” is a dependent clause without a main clause, and “the larger amount of fat consumed during 37%” lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the amount and the figure. The final sentence also joins ideas with “Although” and “While” in an incomplete structure. Practise forming complete subject–verb sentences, for example, “Sodium accounted for 29% at lunch,” and use subordinate clauses only when they are attached to a main clause.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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