Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-04

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 proportion of three harmful nutrients such as sodium , saturated fat and added sugar found in four type of daily

meal consume by individuals in the United state .

Overall , it is clear that the proportion of dinner is maximum and breakfast is minimum in all .

To begin with , the percentage of sodium consumption is highest in dinner with 43 percent and second highest is lunch at 29 percent . Whereas the proportion of breakfast and snaks is same with 14 percent . Moreover , the ratio of breakfast in both saturated fat and Added suger is unchanged at 16 percent .

Nevertheless , the added sugar in snaks is highest with 42 percent as compared to luch it is 19 percent . However , the consumption of saturated fat in dinner is 37 percent followed by snaks it is 21 percent . Furthermore , the ratio of more suger in dinner is 23 percent but saturated fat in luch is 26 percent .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern that sodium and saturated fat peak at dinner, and you report several accurate figures, including sodium at 43% for dinner and 29% for lunch, and added sugar at 42% for snacks. However, the overview that dinner is highest and breakfast lowest “in all” is inaccurate: snacks, not dinner, account for the most added sugar, while breakfast is not the lowest for every nutrient. You also omit the saturated-fat breakfast and snack figures and give limited comparison across all three nutrients. To strengthen the response, make the overview reflect the contrasting pattern for added sugar, then select and compare the key highs and lows more systematically.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about sodium and then the other nutrients. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is uneven: the second detail paragraph combines added sugar and saturated fat, then ends with a comparison that is difficult to interpret (“the ratio of more suger in dinner is 23 percent but saturated fat in luch is 26 percent”). Connectors such as “Moreover,” “Nevertheless,” and “However” are used, but some do not clearly express the relationship between the facts. Grouping information by nutrient or by meal, and using comparisons that explicitly identify both values, would make the organisation clearer and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “percentage,” “consumption,” and “highest,” so the topic is generally clear. There is some repetition of “ratio” and “proportion,” and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “the proportion of dinner,” “four type of daily meal,” and “ratio of more suger.” Spelling errors in “snaks,” “suger,” and “luch” also reduce precision. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding most figures, but they make the description less natural and occasionally unclear. Use standard terms such as “share,” “meal,” and “accounted for,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, for example, “Whereas the proportion of breakfast and snaks is same with 14 percent” and “Moreover, the ratio of breakfast in both saturated fat and Added suger is unchanged at 16 percent.” The meaning is usually recoverable, but some errors in articles, plurals, agreement, and sentence construction affect accuracy: “four type” needs a plural, “meal consume” has an incorrect verb form, and “is same” requires an article or different construction. The opening also has awkward punctuation and spacing. Aim for complete, controlled sentences, such as “Breakfast and snacks each account for 14% of sodium,” and check agreement and articles when revising.

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