Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-03

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 of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in USA, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Overall,sodium and saturated fats are mostly consumed in dinner while most added sugars are onsumed through snacks. Usage of all three nutrients at breakfast are almost similar, whereas at lunchtime sodium is consumed the most among other nutrients.

Breakfast has almost equal percentage of nutrients consumed, with sodium at 14% while saturated fats and sugar both at 16%. The average lunch in US household consists of 29% sodium, 26% of fats and 19% of sugars. Sodium is consumed the least through snacks, at 14% while sugar is consumed on a large quantity making it 42%.

In the last meal of the day, sodium and fats consumption is highest among all other meals of the day at 43% and 37% respectively. While 23% of sugar is consumed at dinner.

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 account for the most added sugar. The overview also notes the similar breakfast figures, and the reported percentages are consistent with the chart. However, the comparison that sodium is highest at lunch “among other nutrients” is unclear, and the snack discussion omits the saturated-fat figure, which would help make the comparison more complete. The response is also 134 words, below the required 150, so the report is under-length. To strengthen the response, include the missing snack value and make the comparisons across all three nutrients more explicit, while developing the overview and details sufficiently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing breakfast/lunch/snacks and dinner. This makes the information generally easy to follow. However, the grouping is not fully logical: breakfast, lunch and snacks are discussed together, then dinner is separated, and the snack information interrupts the meal-by-meal sequence. The transition “In the last meal of the day” is understandable but does not clearly connect to the preceding comparisons. Some linking is also mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “while.” Organise the details either by meal or by nutrient, and use clearer transitions to show contrasts. This would create more consistent progression and make the comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing the chart, including “average percentages,” “consumed,” and “highest,” and the meaning is generally clear. However, some word choices and collocations are awkward or imprecise: “sugar is consumed on a large quantity” and “Usage of all three nutrients” do not sound natural in this context. “Fats” and “sugar” are also used where the chart’s more precise labels, “saturated fat” and “added sugar,” would improve accuracy. There is a spelling error in “onsumed,” and “in USA” is missing the article in the phrase naming the country. Aim for precise chart vocabulary and natural collocations rather than repeating “consumed” throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including the overview contrast “whereas most added sugars…” and the longer sentence comparing lunch figures. Most of the information remains understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors reduce accuracy. There is no space after the comma in “Overall,sodium,” and the sentence beginning “While 23% of sugar is consumed at dinner” is a fragment because it is not joined to a main clause. The phrase “at breakfast are almost similar” also has an unclear grammatical relationship between the subject and verb. Use complete clauses, check agreement and sentence boundaries, and vary the structures used to compare figures. These changes would improve control without sacrificing the clear meaning.

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