Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-30

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 chart illustrates the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients Sodium, saturated fat and added sugar, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much consumed in USA.

Overall, Sodium and saturated fat has the highest proportion in meals consumed in dinner. While, added sugar has highest percentage in snacks. In breakfast, the proportion of these three nutrients are lowest.

It is evident that sodium and saturated fat had the major proportion in dinner which is 43% and 37% respectively. While, added sugar is highest in other meals like snack which is 42%.

Then comes meals like breakfast and lunch. While, breakfast had the lowest percentage of all three nutrients Sodium which is 16% in saturated sugar and added sugar, and 14% in sodium. Meals taken in lunch has the highest percentage of sodium in USA which is 29% and saturated fat has 26% of it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main pattern: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. You also include several relevant figures, such as 43%, 37% and 42%. However, the overview that breakfast is lowest for all three nutrients is inaccurate: added sugar is lowest at lunch (19%), not breakfast (16%); breakfast and lunch are also misreported in the later comparison. The response contains 131 words, below the 150-word minimum, and this limits the detail available. To strengthen the report, check each figure against the chart and cover the remaining comparisons, especially the distribution of added sugar across meals.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs presenting figures. The reader can follow the broad contrast between dinner and snacks. However, progression is limited: the final paragraph begins “Then comes meals like breakfast and lunch,” but does not develop a clear comparison of all four meals or nutrients. Several sentences start with “While,” creating a repetitive and sometimes awkward link between ideas, and “It is evident” largely repeats the overview. Organise the details by nutrient or by meal, and use linking expressions to show precise contrasts. This would make the report’s progression clearer and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentage,” “nutrients” and the names of the three categories, so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and some phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “major proportion in dinner,” “highest in other meals like snack” and “Meals taken in lunch.” Repetition of “highest percentage” and “lowest percentage” also makes the description less flexible. Use standard chart language and vary the terms for shares and comparisons, while keeping the wording accurate. For example, describe a nutrient as accounting for a share “of the total” or as having the “largest proportion” in a meal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentence forms, but control is inconsistent, and errors occur in both simple and complex sentences. For example, “Sodium and saturated fat has” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “While, added sugar is highest…” is an incomplete or incorrectly punctuated clause. The opening sentence also has an unclear construction around “all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much consumed in USA.” Articles and plural forms are sometimes missing or inconsistent, as in “in dinner” and “these three nutrients are lowest.” Aim first for accurate complete sentences, then combine comparisons using a clear main clause and a correctly attached subordinate clause.

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

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