Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10
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 charts demonstrate the average proportions of the particular types of meal nutrients which could be unhealthy if consumed excessively.
Overall, sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar constitute the unhealthy nutrients that need to be eaten in moderation. During dinner, the first two make up the highest percentage of the diet, while snack represents the biggest proportion.
For lunch, sodium and saturated fat are consumed at almost the same level, 29% and 26% respectively, while added sugar is the least used 19%. Contrastingly, both added sugar and saturated fat are used equally 16% during breakfast, whereas sodium is taken a little lesser 14%.
Additionally, the proportion of dinner for sodium and saturated fat constitute the largest proportion at 41% and 37% respectively, meanwhile snack on the other hand is the most consumed at 42%. The proportion of luch remaines relatively the same throughout the three categories of food to
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the task achievement. While the main features of the charts are identified, the analysis is incomplete. The final sentence is unfinished ('The proportion of luch remaines relatively the same throughout the three categories of food to'), which leaves the summary truncated. Furthermore, the comparison of data is somewhat confusing, particularly in the final paragraph where the mention of 'snack' being the 'most consumed at 42%' lacks clarity regarding which nutrient is being referenced. To improve, ensure all data points are clearly linked to their respective categories and complete all sentences to provide a fully developed overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical flow is hindered by the incomplete final sentence and some awkward transitions. While cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'For lunch', and 'Contrastingly' are used, the connection between ideas is sometimes mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the link between the nutrients and the meal types becomes muddled. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that cohesive devices are used to link ideas smoothly rather than just acting as signposts at the start of sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for higher bands. Phrases like 'taken a little lesser' are non-standard and awkward. There is some repetition of basic terms such as 'proportion' and 'consumed'. While the student attempts to use academic vocabulary like 'constitute' and 'excessively', the overall control is inconsistent. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. For example, instead of saying 'the least used', consider 'the lowest proportion' or 'the smallest contribution'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that detract from the quality of the writing. For instance, 'snack represents' should be 'snacks represent', and 'luch remaines' contains both a spelling error and a subject-verb agreement issue. The final sentence is grammatically incomplete, which is a significant issue. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and spelling to ensure accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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