Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03
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 charts illustrates the information about average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA. It contains different types of meals such as snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner in percentage for each chemicals,
There is highest mixture of sodium in dinner is 43 percentage. The percentage of sodium in snack and breakfast remains constant with 14 percentage and lunch have 29 percent of sodium.
Dinner has highest percent of saturated fat that is 37 percent as well as snack has 21 percent. Additionally, breakfast has lowest rate of fat is 16 percent and lunch has 26 percent of saturated fat.
There is highest rate of added sugar in snack with the pecent of 42 as well as breakfast has lowest rate of added sugar with the percent of 16. Furthermore, lunch has 19 percent and diner has 23 pecent of sugar added.
Overall, the given charts gives the information about the average rate of sodium, saturated fats and added sugar in typical meals consumed in the USA.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the three nutrients and four meal types. However, the overview is weak; it merely repeats the introduction rather than highlighting the main trends or significant differences. While the data is presented, the report lacks a comparative analysis. For instance, stating 'dinner is 43 percentage' is a simple listing of data rather than a synthesis. To reach a higher band, you should group the data more effectively—such as noting that dinner is the primary source of sodium and saturated fats, while snacks dominate in added sugars—rather than listing each meal individually.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is mechanical and repetitive. Each paragraph follows an identical, list-like structure ('There is...', 'Dinner has...', 'Additionally...'). The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes awkward, such as 'as well as' used repeatedly to link clauses. To improve, you should vary your linking words and focus on creating a logical flow between sentences that compares the data rather than just stating it in isolation.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You frequently use basic terms like 'highest' and 'lowest' and repeat the word 'percentage' or 'percent' in almost every sentence. There are also some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'chemicals' (these are nutrients, not chemicals) and 'diner' (which refers to a person or a restaurant, not the meal). To improve, use a wider range of synonyms for 'high' and 'low' and ensure you use the correct terminology for the data provided.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The given charts illustrates') and incorrect article usage ('in percentage for each chemicals'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of complex sentence structures and the persistent minor errors limit the score. You should focus on using a mix of complex sentences and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and pluralisation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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