Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01
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)
The provided representation demonstrates the total three types of nutrients in typical foods and the average percentage of them and may be considered harmful for humans if consumed in high volumes.
Overall, sodium and saturated fat have been used mostly in dinner at 43% and 37% respectively. Whereas added sugar was added in snack at 42% and second highest, it used in dinner at 23%. Saturated fat was second highest in lunch at the percentage of 26% and similarly for sodium, it was added in lunch at 29%.
To begin with, sodium was highly used in dinner at the percentage of 43%. The next major usage of it, was in lunch at 29%. While snack and breakfast had exact percentage of 14%.
Furthermore, saturated fat had heavily used in dinner at 37%. The latter category was lunch at 26%, the rest of of categories such as breakfast and snack were at the percentage of 16% and 21% respectively.
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 all three nutrients and identifies the main features, such as the high levels of sodium and saturated fat in dinner. However, the report is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the data. While the key figures are mentioned, the comparison between the categories could be more sophisticated. The introduction is slightly awkward in its phrasing, and the summary of the data is more of a list of facts rather than a cohesive synthesis of the trends. To improve, focus on grouping the data more effectively to highlight the most significant differences and similarities across the four meal types.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Whereas' is present, but some transitions feel mechanical or slightly forced. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for a task of this nature, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by varying the sentence starters and avoiding repetitive phrasing like 'at the percentage of'. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear enough to follow without difficulty.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is a heavy reliance on basic structures and repetitive phrasing, such as 'at the percentage of' and 'used in'. Phrases like 'The latter category was lunch' are used, but the overall range is limited. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'total three types of nutrients' instead of 'three types of nutrients'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more varied reporting verbs and synonyms for 'high' or 'low' levels, such as 'significant', 'predominant', or 'minimal'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'saturated fat had heavily used' (should be passive voice: 'was heavily used') and 'the rest of of categories'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are some awkward phrasings that impact the flow. The control of grammar is sufficient to communicate the main points, but the frequency of errors prevents a higher score. Focusing on consistent use of passive voice for data reporting and proofreading for small errors would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.