Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28
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 given below illustrate the average percentages of three different types of nutrients in daily meals and they can also become toxic to health in tha case of over consumption.
Overall, there are three main types of nutrients given in the charts. one is sodium , second is saturated fat and third one is added sugar. their percentages show the use of them in daily meals like breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time.
firstly, the sodium is consumed mostly in dinner which is 43% and least in both snacks and breakfast which is 14% in the USA.
Secondly , the saturated fat is consumed 37% in dinner depicting the highest percentage while it is minimally used in breakfast. Utilization in snack and lunch is having a insignificant difference.
Lastly , the third chart is representing the added sugar. It is consumed in snacks with the highest percentage. Breakfast, lunch and dinner make use of added sugar also but with minor variations.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the highest and lowest values for each nutrient. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, while you mention that sodium is 43% at dinner, you do not provide a clear comparison with other meals beyond stating the lowest value. Furthermore, the description of added sugar is vague, stating there are 'minor variations' without citing the specific percentages (e.g., 19% for breakfast vs 23% for snacks). To reach a higher band, you should integrate more specific data points and ensure the comparisons are more analytical rather than just listing the figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use basic cohesive devices like 'firstly', 'secondly', and 'lastly' to sequence your points. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the paragraphing is slightly disjointed. The introduction is a bit repetitive, and the transition between the general overview and the specific details could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'consumed' and 'percentage'. Phrases like 'having a insignificant difference' are slightly awkward and contain a grammatical error ('an' vs 'a'). There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary, but it is limited. To improve, incorporate more varied synonyms for 'consumption' and 'percentage', and focus on more sophisticated collocations to describe trends and data points.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in tha case of' (spelling), 'one is sodium , second is saturated fat' (missing articles and punctuation), and 'the third chart is representing' (tense choice). Additionally, there are issues with capitalization and article usage throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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