Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-28

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 delineates the average ratio in typical meals of three types of nutrients, All of which may be unhealthy if consumed in excessive limit.

Overall, It shows average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in usual meals consumed in the Usa. Sodium and saturated fat have slightly diffrence. However, added sugar make huge diffrence.

In breakfast, the amount of average ratio of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar is 14 % and other two is at 16%. lunch had almost simillar in sodium and saturated fat. However, added sugar consumed less in lunch such as at 19%.

In snack, sodium, saturated fat and added sugar ratio is in rising order such as 14%, 21% and double of last one at 42%. dinner ratio is moderate in all three but in diminishing order with 43% in sodium, 37% in saturated fat and 23% in added sugar. however major change was in added sugar in snack time citizens of Usa.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three nutrients and report several relevant figures, including dinner’s highest sodium share (43%) and the high added-sugar share in snacks (42%). However, the overview is vague: saying sodium and saturated fat have a “slightly diffrence” does not clearly summarise their meal patterns, and “added sugar make huge diffrence” does not specify that snacks are its largest source. Some comparisons are also unclear, such as “lunch had almost simillar in sodium and saturated fat,” despite the values being 29% and 26%. The response is 137 words, below the required 150, and this limits the detail provided. Develop a precise overview and explain the main contrasts across meals.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. This gives the reader some organisation, and contrast markers such as “However” help signal comparisons. However, the progression is not consistently clear: breakfast and lunch are combined in one paragraph, while snack and dinner are discussed together, making the comparisons harder to follow. Several links are mechanical or unclear, including “In snack” and “dinner ratio is moderate in all three.” Use separate, logically grouped paragraphs and connect each comparison explicitly—for example, contrast dinner’s high sodium with snacks’ high added sugar. Clearer referencing would also help the reader track which nutrient each figure describes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “average percentages,” “sodium,” “saturated fat” and “added sugar,” so the topic is generally understandable. There are also attempts to describe comparisons with phrases such as “rising order” and “diminishing order.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, including “average ratio,” “huge diffrence,” “consumed in excessive limit” and “dinner ratio.” Spelling errors such as “diffrence,” “simillar” and “Usa” are noticeable. These issues sometimes make the intended comparison less clear. Aim for precise chart language such as “proportion,” “accounted for,” “highest share” and “respectively,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast introduced by “However,” and the figures are usually presented in a recognisable sentence structure. Nevertheless, errors are frequent enough to make some sentences difficult to interpret. For example, “The pie charts delineates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “added sugar make huge diffrence” also lacks agreement and a clear grammatical construction. The sentence beginning “In breakfast, the amount…” is incomplete or awkwardly joined to “and other two is at 16%.” Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, particularly in “Overall, It” and the final “however.” Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, complete sentence construction and consistent punctuation, especially when comparing several figures.

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