Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-01

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)

In this picture the chart shows the percentages of different nutrients which are average for any meal. If someone take these meals in significant amount on daily basis then it would be proved dangerous for our healthy life style.

I am summarizing the information which is shown in the given picture by selecting and reporting the main features of this picture.

Firstly, the large amount of sodium was consumed by the people of USA in the dinner. At the same time, saturated fat percentage in dinner was solely 37% which was less than the percentage of sodium in the meals.

The next component was added sugar which was consumed by the people USA less in breakfast and significant during snacks time. During lunch time, the trend followed the sodium first which had more nutrients rather than the added sugar which contained less nutrients therefore it placed at the end.

In conclusion, 3 components were shown in the picture and nutrients they contained vary in their amount.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response attempts to address the task but fails to provide a clear, accurate summary of the data. The description of the charts is vague and contains factual inaccuracies, such as claiming sodium was highest in dinner when the charts show different values for different meals. The overview is missing, and the report lacks a clear comparison of the three nutrients across the four meal types. The student focuses on individual components without synthesizing the data effectively, which is a requirement for Band 6 or higher. The response is more of a narrative than a data-driven report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes misused, such as 'The next component was added sugar' and 'At the same time'. The introduction is overly wordy and includes meta-commentary about the task rather than focusing on the data. The transition between ideas is often abrupt, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the nutrients and the meal times.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'in significant amount' and 'nutrients they contained vary in their amount' are basic and lack the precision required for an Academic Task 1 report. There are issues with word choice, such as 'solely 37%' which is an incorrect usage of the adverb. The student struggles to use specific terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuate', or 'peak'. The range of vocabulary is just sufficient to convey the basic meaning but lacks the flexibility needed for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'If someone take these meals' (subject-verb agreement), 'it would be proved dangerous' (incorrect passive voice), and 'the trend followed the sodium first' (unclear phrasing). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the overall control of complex structures is limited. Errors are noticeable throughout the text and occasionally cause some difficulty for the reader in understanding the intended meaning.

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