Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21
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 given chart represents the average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in meals consumed in USA.
It is clear from the chart that the most amount of sodium is consumed during dinner, meanwhile the least is devoured during breakfast and snack time. The high intake of saturated fat is during dinner and least is during breakfast. Most amount of added sugar is consumed during snack time and least is during breakfast time. Adding further, During breakfast, sodium consumption is 14%, saturated fat is 16% and added sugar is also 16%. Throughout lunch, percentages of sodium remains 29%, saturated fat at 26% and added sugar at 19%. 14% of sodium, 21% of saturated fat and 42% of added sugar is devoured during snack time. Lastly, In the course of dinner time, amount of sodium consumed is 43%, saturated fat is 37% and added sugar is 23%.
To summarize, these three type of nutrients could be unhealthy if they are eaten too much.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features of the three nutrients across the four meal categories. You successfully highlight the peak consumption times, such as sodium and saturated fats at dinner and added sugars during snacks. However, the report is somewhat mechanical, listing data points rather than synthesising them into a more analytical overview. To reach a higher band, focus on grouping the data more effectively to highlight trends rather than listing every percentage point individually. The overview is present but could be more distinct from the body paragraphs to better summarise the overall trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organised, moving from an introduction to body paragraphs and a brief summary. You use some cohesive devices like 'meanwhile', 'adding further', and 'throughout', which help the flow. However, the paragraphing is underdeveloped; the entire body of the report is contained in one large paragraph, which makes it harder to follow. Breaking the information into two distinct paragraphs—perhaps one for the main trends and one for the specific data comparisons—would improve the structure significantly. Referencing is generally clear, but the transition between sentences could be smoother to avoid a list-like feel.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'consumed', 'intake', and 'devoured'. However, the word choice is occasionally repetitive, and some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'most amount of sodium'. The use of 'devoured' is also slightly informal for an academic report. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'peak at'. The current range is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'percentages of sodium remains' (subject-verb agreement) and 'these three type of nutrients' (pluralisation). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and capitalization issues, such as 'Adding further, During breakfast'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and consistent capitalization. Incorporating a wider variety of complex structures, such as relative clauses or participle phrases, would also help demonstrate better grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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