Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05
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)
We have given the chart, showing the percentages of three types of nutrients in typical meals consumed in the USA.
The consumption of sodium in breakfast is 14%. Whereas, saturated fats added sugar consumption are same with 16%.
The dinner is consisted of 43% sodium, 37% saturated fat and 23% of added sugar. However, the quantity of sodium consumption decreased in the breakfast by 29 percent.
The breakfast had the the similar proportion of saturated fat and added sugar but in lunch, variation of percentages were seen in the consumption of each type of nutrients with 29% sodium, 26% saturated fat and 19% added sugar.
The highest amount of added sugar was consumed through snacks. Therefore, we could say the the lunch had the very reasonable proportion of each nutrients.
Among all meals, the dinner might be the most unhealthiest one as sodium, saturated fat and added sugar all were consumed in high proportion in the dinner. Snacks, had the high consumption of added sugar, which too might be considered unhealthy. Whereas, the other three meals had all three nutrients in a far better ratio as compared to these two.
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 across the four meal categories, but the reporting of data is inconsistent and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, you state that sodium decreased by 29 percent in breakfast compared to dinner, which is a confusing way to present the data. Furthermore, the analysis lacks a clear overview of the main trends, such as the fact that dinner is the highest contributor across all three categories. While you attempt to make comparisons, the lack of precision in data reporting and the inclusion of subjective commentary (e.g., 'the lunch had the very reasonable proportion') detract from the objective tone required for an Academic Task 1 report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by awkward transitions and repetitive phrasing. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as starting a sentence with 'Whereas' without a preceding clause to contrast. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences feels disjointed. While the paragraphing is present, the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks the necessary cohesion to guide the reader smoothly through the data comparisons. Improving the use of linking words like 'in contrast', 'similarly', and 'consequently' would help improve the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors and repeat terms like 'consumption' and 'proportion' frequently. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'the dinner is consisted of' (should be 'consists of') and 'most unhealthiest' (a double superlative error). To reach a higher band, you should aim for a wider range of synonyms and more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends and data points, such as 'accounted for', 'constituted', or 'a significant proportion'.
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. Common issues include incorrect article usage ('the the similar', 'the the lunch'), subject-verb agreement errors ('the dinner is consisted of'), and awkward phrasing ('variation of percentages were seen'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for small errors like articles and verb forms will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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