Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-04
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 information about the mean proportion of typical meals of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar, all of which may be unhealthy highest excess if is demonstrated by pie charts .
Overall, the highest proportion sodium consumed by individuals at dinner and sodium taken by human beings at breakfast and snacks was lowest.
Sodium consumed by people at dinner time was 43% recorded at peak. While, sodium consumed by humans at breakfast and snacks was 14%, which was at lowest. The ratio of added sugar consumed by humans in snacks was 42% , which was double than of saturated fat.
The similar proportion of saturated fat and added sugar eat at breakfast by human beings was 16%. The ratio of saturated fat at dinner and lunch and sodium at lunch eaten by humans was 26%, 29% and 37% , respectively. The added sugar consumed by individuals at dinner and lunch was approximately 24%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the charts. However, the overview is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear summary of the overall trends. While you have selected key data points, the presentation of the information is occasionally confusing, particularly in the second paragraph where the comparison between nutrients is unclear. To improve, ensure that your overview highlights the most significant differences or similarities across the categories rather than just listing isolated facts. The data reporting is generally accurate, but the lack of a cohesive structure makes it difficult for the reader to grasp the main trends at a glance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'sodium consumed by'. There is a lack of variety in linking words, which makes the text feel disjointed. For example, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider range of cohesive devices (e.g., 'in contrast', 'furthermore', 'conversely') to connect your sentences and ideas more naturally, ensuring that the relationship between the data points is clearly articulated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and basic. Phrases like 'sodium consumed by' and 'human beings' are used repeatedly, which limits the range of your expression. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'highest excess' and 'eat at breakfast', which sound unnatural. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You should aim to use more varied synonyms for 'consumed' (e.g., 'intake', 'ingested') and more sophisticated ways to describe data trends, such as 'accounted for', 'constituted', or 'represented'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with article usage ('the highest proportion sodium'), subject-verb agreement ('saturated fat and added sugar eat at breakfast'), and sentence structure ('While, sodium consumed by humans at breakfast and snacks was 14%, which was at lowest'). The use of complex structures is limited and often results in errors that can impede the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring that your verb tenses and prepositions are used correctly. Proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect word order will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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