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)
The charts compares the percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA, all of might be danger for health, if eaten in too much quantity.
Overall, sodium and saturated fat are added in highest amount in dinner, while in snack sugar added more to comparison to other nutrients.
Looking first at, in dinner sodium added the highest proportion, accounted at 43%, while in lunch, its added 29% less comparatively to dinner. In contrast, its accounted for 14% in both snack and breakfast. Meanwhile, the highest amount saturated fat added in dinner, accounting for 37%. On the other hand, its added 26% in lunch, 21 in snack and the smallest proportion added into the breakfast, represented at 16%.
Turning to other category, the highest proportion of sugar added in the snack, accounted at 42%, meanwhile its add into dinner at 23% as well as sugar added
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 the main features of the charts, identifying key trends for sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars. However, the report is incomplete; the final sentence cuts off abruptly ('as well as sugar added'), leaving the data for breakfast and lunch for the sugar category unaddressed. While the overview provides a general summary, the lack of completion prevents a full analysis of all data points. To improve, ensure all categories are fully described and that the report reaches a logical conclusion rather than ending mid-sentence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, and there is an attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Looking first at', and 'In contrast'. However, the flow is hindered by the incomplete final sentence, which disrupts the logical progression of the text. Referencing is sometimes mechanical, and the transition between ideas could be smoother. The use of paragraphing is appropriate for the task, but the lack of a finished conclusion impacts the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'nutrients'. However, there are several awkward collocations and word-choice errors, such as 'all of might be danger for health' (should be 'dangerous') and 'sugar added more to comparison to' (should be 'in comparison to'). The range is somewhat limited, and the repetition of 'added' and 'accounted' suggests a need for more varied synonyms to describe statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'The charts compares' (subject-verb agreement), 'if eaten in too much quantity' (awkward phrasing), and 'its added 29% less' (incorrect use of 'its' instead of 'it is' or 'it was'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the final sentence. These errors are noticeable and occasionally cause the reader to pause, though they do not completely impede communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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