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 charts illustrates the average proportion of typical meals with three types of nutrients,which may be detremental if eaten too much.
Overall,there are three types of nutrients we got from food we eat.Its the sodium,saturated fats and added sugar.Among the three sodium in dinner has the highest percentage while sodium in snacks and breakfast had the lowest portion.
Looking at the pie chart,sodium in dinner accounts the greatest portion with 43%,while the added sugar in snacks rank number two with 42% of percentage.Dinner saturated fats however had become the top three unhealthy nutrients if consumed regularly with 37% meals consumed in USA.
On the other hand,sodium consumed in snacks and breakfast had 14% portion and notable to be the lowest meal type Americans consumed,However added sugar in breakfast and saturated fats had 16% consumers eating that kind of food every morning in United States of America or the American people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the main pattern that dinner contributes the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, and you correctly report the key figures of 43%, 37%, and 42% for added sugar in snacks. However, the overview is incomplete: it does not clearly compare all three nutrients, especially the contrast between dinner-led sodium and saturated fat versus snack-led added sugar. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, 37% is the share of saturated fat in dinner, not “37% meals consumed,” and the statement about breakfast combines two separate nutrient figures without explaining their meaning. To strengthen the response, give a concise overview of the main contrasts, then report selected figures accurately and explain what each percentage represents.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to details, so the reader can identify the intended stages of the report. However, progression within the paragraphs is uneven: the overview lists nutrient names but does not establish a clear comparison, while the final paragraph shifts between sodium and two breakfast figures. Linking phrases such as “Overall” and “On the other hand” are present, but the latter does not introduce a clear contrast, and “however” is awkwardly placed. Organise the body by meal or by nutrient, and connect each figure explicitly to its category. This would make the comparisons easier to follow and reduce the impression of a list of disconnected facts.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use some task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “accounts,” “greatest portion,” and “percentage,” which helps communicate that the charts compare nutrient shares. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, sometimes making the data difficult to interpret. “Dinner saturated fats … had become the top three” does not express the intended ranking, and “16% consumers eating that kind of food” confuses a nutrient proportion with the number of consumers. There are also spelling errors such as “detremental.” Aim for precise chart language and natural collocations, for example, “accounted for 37% of saturated-fat intake at dinner.” Avoid repeating “portion” and “percentage” when more exact terms are available.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, but control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, sentence construction, and punctuation frequently affect clarity. For example, “The pie charts illustrates” has a plural subject with a singular verb, while “Overall,there are” lacks spacing after the comma. The sentence beginning “Dinner saturated fats however…” is difficult to parse, and the final sentence joins several ideas without clear grammatical relationships. There are also problems with articles and phrasing, as in “accounts the greatest portion.” Use shorter, complete sentences when reporting figures, check subject–verb agreement, and punctuate clauses carefully. Building accurate comparisons with structures such as “Dinner accounts for…, whereas snacks make up…” would improve control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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