Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-27

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 illustrate the proportions of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in typical meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks consumed in the USA.

Overall, snacks accounts for the highest proportion of added sugar, while dinner accounts for the largest share of sodium and saturated fats. In contrast, breakfast consistently represents for relatively lower proportions in all of the nutrients.

In details, snacks and breakfast constitutes equal proportions of sodium that is 14%, while lunch represents 29%. Dinner accounts for the highest percentage of 43% which is almost half of the entire share. Moving to sodium, dinner again represents the highest proportion, at 37%, followed by lunch and snack at 26% and 21% respectively.

However, figure for the added sugar shows a different pattern. Snacks comprises a large proportion, at 42%, followed by dinner and lunch at 23% and 19% respectively, while breakfast accounts for a smallest share of 16%.

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 lead for added sugar. Several figures are also reported correctly, including sodium at 14% for breakfast and snacks and 43% for dinner, and added sugar at 42% for snacks. However, the saturated-fat paragraph is mistakenly introduced as “Moving to sodium,” and it omits breakfast’s 16%; this makes the coverage less complete and briefly confuses the data. The overview’s claim that breakfast is consistently relatively low is broadly supported, but could be made more precise by noting that it is tied with snacks for the lowest sodium share. Clearer identification of each nutrient and fuller comparison of all meal categories would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs presenting details. The overview gives the reader a useful guide to the main contrasts, and transitions such as “Overall” and “However” help signal the stages of the report. Nevertheless, progression is weakened by the inaccurate transition “Moving to sodium” immediately before the saturated-fat figures, which disrupts the organisation of the information. The final paragraph also covers added sugar, but the preceding detail paragraph combines two nutrients without clearly labelling the second. Use one clearly signposted section for each nutrient, or group the meal patterns consistently, and use references that make the data being discussed unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportions,” “largest share,” “followed by” and “accounts for,” which allows you to describe and compare the figures. Some variation in phrasing helps avoid excessive repetition. However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “In details,” “snacks accounts,” and “represents for”; these reduce naturalness and precision. “Entire share” is also unclear when describing dinner’s 43% of sodium. Aim for standard chart-reporting expressions such as “In detail,” “snacks account for,” “represents,” and “of the total.” More precise vocabulary for identifying the nutrient in each comparison would also prevent the confusion between sodium and saturated fat.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more developed sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “while” and “which,” and the main comparisons are generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with subject–verb agreement: “snacks accounts” and “snacks and breakfast constitutes” should use plural verbs. There are also article and structure problems in “a smallest share,” while “breakfast consistently represents for” uses an incorrect grammatical pattern. These errors do not prevent the reader from following most of the report, but they make the writing less controlled. Check whether the subject is singular or plural, and review article use with superlatives; for example, write “the smallest share” and “breakfast represents a relatively low proportion.”

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