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 given representation demonstrates the average proportion of three nutrients in different types of meals which would be harmful if they are eaten more than enough.
To begin with dinner, it contains most amount of sodium and saturated fat at 43% and 37%, respectively. Whereas it contains 23% of added sugar. Moreover lunch, it contains 29% of sodium, 26% of saturated fat and 19% of added sugar.
Moving further to breakfast and snacks which contains same amount of sodium at 14% which is the lowest amount of sodium used among different meals. Whereas, snacks and breakfast contains 21% and 16% of saturated fat, respectively. Moreover, breakfast contains 16% of added sugar and snacks contains the most amount of added sugar at 42%.
Overall, the highest amount of sodium and saturated fat is used in dinner and the least are used in breakfast. Whereas added sugar is used mostly in snacks and least used in breakfast.
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 parts of the task by identifying the main features of the three nutrients across the four meal types. You successfully highlighted the highest and lowest values, such as dinner having the most sodium and snacks having the most added sugar. However, the report is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview that synthesises the data effectively. While you mention the main features, the comparison between categories could be more sophisticated. To improve, ensure you group the data more logically rather than listing figures meal by meal, and provide a more insightful summary of the trends rather than just repeating the data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use basic cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'Overall' to link your ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes repetitive, particularly in the way you list percentages for each meal. The use of cohesive devices is functional but occasionally mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the transition between sentences feels more natural and less like a list of statistics.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information clearly. You use terms like 'proportion', 'nutrients', and 'respectively' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple phrasing such as 'most amount of' and 'least used'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'predominant', 'account for', or 'constitute'. The word choice is generally accurate, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher band scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'which contains same amount' (missing an article) and 'snacks and breakfast contains' (subject-verb agreement error). Additionally, the phrase 'if they are eaten more than enough' is slightly unnatural. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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