Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02
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 illustrate that the average percentages in the typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may make you unhealthy if you eaten it too much.
Overall, there are three charts, namely, Sodium, Saturated fat and added suger. Which is accounts in the meal of United States of America, and it they consume it overdose it can be harmful for their health.
The first chart is about sodium, average American accounts sodium 43% in dinner which is their highest consumption in a day second highest is in lunch they consume 29%, while in snack and breakfast the number is 14 percentage. Which is equal.
In second chart which is showing the numbers of saturated fat. Average American person eats too much saturated fat in dinner, which is 37%, while in lunch they accounts 26% which is also highest consumption in a day, then in snack they consume 21%. While in breakfast they take 16% of saturated fat.
Thirdly, and last chart is about added suger while eating snacks average American consume 42% of added suger. Which is highest consumption in a day and second highest is in dinner which is 23% and again in lunch they accounts 19% which is second lowest, while in breakfast they have 16% of suger
In concussion. They eat too much in dinner and lighter 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 | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all three charts and identifies the main features, such as the high sodium and saturated fat content in dinner, and the high added sugar content in snacks. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, simply listing percentages rather than synthesizing the data effectively. The overview is present but lacks a clear, comparative summary of the trends. While the key features are highlighted, the lack of sophisticated comparison between the nutrient categories limits the depth of the response. The conclusion is very brief and does not add significant value to the summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or mechanical (e.g., 'The first chart', 'In second chart', 'Thirdly, and last chart'). There are issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the use of sentence fragments like 'Which is equal' or 'Which is highest consumption in a day'. These fragments disrupt the flow of the text. While the progression of ideas is logical, the lack of varied linking words and the presence of awkward phrasing make the text feel somewhat disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several spelling errors, such as 'suger' instead of 'sugar', and grammatical word-choice issues, such as 'accounts' used incorrectly as a verb (e.g., 'average American accounts sodium'). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying heavily on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise verbs and nouns related to data description, such as 'constitutes', 'comprises', 'proportion', and 'significant'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('they accounts'), incorrect verb forms ('if you eaten it'), and sentence fragments ('Which is equal'). The range of grammatical structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. Complex sentence attempts are often flawed, such as 'Which is accounts in the meal of United States of America'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the misuse of full stops to separate dependent clauses from the main sentence.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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