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 pie chart compares the proportion of the types of meals consumed in the USA.
Overall, sodium and saturated fat were consumed in dinner at signifcant level, while added sugar was consumed in a greater amount in snack. On the contrast, all types of nutrients were taken at a very reduced level in breakfast.
Consumption of sodium was stood at only 14% in breakfast and snack with the lowest compared to all other meals. While, dinner holds the greatest amount with 43%. In addition, it was consumed at around 29%.
Moreover, saturated fat was ate about 37% at the time of dinner at the top. It was consumed less in breakfast which is only 16%. In lunch and snack, consumption of saturated fat grew up to 21% and 26% respectively.
Finally, added sugar was used most at the time of snack which is 42%, and during breakfast and lunch it was at around 16% and 19%. In addition, 23% of added sugar was consumed during dinner which is second highest in this category of nutrients.
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 consumption of sodium and saturated fat at dinner and added sugar at snack time. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for instance, it states sodium was consumed at a 'significant level' at dinner, but fails to clearly contrast the overall trends. The data reporting is generally accurate, but the description of the charts is slightly flawed as the prompt shows four charts (one for each meal type), not just a general comparison of meal types. To improve, ensure the overview highlights the most striking differences across all categories rather than just listing individual data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific nutrients. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Finally', and 'In addition' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions are awkward, such as 'On the contrast' (should be 'In contrast') and 'While, dinner holds...' which creates a sentence fragment. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the mechanical use of linking words occasionally disrupts the flow. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring they are used with correct grammatical structures would enhance the coherence of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. Phrases like 'signifcant level' (spelling error), 'very reduced level', and 'grew up to' are somewhat basic or unnatural. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'saturated fat was ate' (incorrect verb form) and 'used most' (should be 'consumed most'). While the student successfully uses terms like 'proportion', 'nutrients', and 'category', the range is limited. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and ensure correct collocations, such as 'accounted for' instead of 'holds' or 'was stood at'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Consumption of sodium was stood at' (passive voice error), 'saturated fat was ate' (incorrect past participle), and 'which is only 16%' (repetitive relative clauses). Punctuation is generally functional, but the misuse of commas and sentence fragments (e.g., 'While, dinner holds...') indicates a lack of control over complex structures. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage, and avoiding fragments by ensuring every sentence has a clear main clause.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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