Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-14
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 chart illustartes the average proportion of three different nutrients of typical meals such as sodium, saturated fat and added sugar which may be detrimental to health if consumed excessively for snack, breakfast, dinner or lunch in the USA.
Overall, sodium and saturated fat is consumed highly during the dinner whereas added sugar is consumed while having snacks. The least common ate nutrients in a day is during breakfast.
Initially, In the USA, during the dinner 43% of food contains sodium whereas 37% and 23% is saturated fat and added sugar. During the snacks and breakfast time only 14% of food contains sodium nutrients, while 16% of food consumed during breakfast contains saturated fat and added sugar.
In contrast, added sugar in snacks contains 42% whereas 21% is saturated fat and remaining is sodium. For lunch the nutrients are divided as follows sodium(29%),saturated fat(26%) and added sugar(19%). This is how the average proportion of sodium, saturated fats and added sugar are divided into typical meals.
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 student covers all parts of the task by identifying and reporting the main features of the chart, including sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar across different meals. An overview is successfully presented, stating that sodium and saturated fat are consumed highly during dinner while added sugar is prominent in snacks. Key comparisons are made, such as pointing out that 'during the dinner 43% of food contains sodium whereas 37% and 23% is saturated fat and added sugar.' However, there are some minor inaccuracies in reporting specific data points (for instance, the chart details for snacks show different percentages than what is stated in the body), which keeps the score at a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response has a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and detailed body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from specific details. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Overall', 'Initially', and 'In contrast', though referencing and transitions can occasionally feel a bit mechanical or slightly awkward as seen in 'This is how the average proportion...'. Overall progression is present, guiding the reader logically through the data presented in the visual prompt.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, incorporating terms like 'proportion', 'nutrients', 'detrimental', and 'excessively'. There are, however, some lexical and word-formation errors and awkward collocations, such as 'illustartes' (spelling), 'ate nutrients' instead of 'consumed nutrients', and imprecise phrasing. Despite these slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at relative clauses and comparative structures. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement errors like 'sodium and saturated fat is consumed', missing commas after introductory phrases ('Initially, In the USA'), and awkward phrasing such as 'added sugar in snacks contains 42%'. However, these errors do not impede communication, supporting a Band 6.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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