Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-24
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)
Overall, the prima facie glance makes it quite clear that all the nutrients are mostly used in dinner bar added sugar. The saturated fat and added sugar are identically used in breakfast. Sodium is used in same proportion in snack and breakfast.
Scrutinising deeper into the obtainable information, sodium used in dinner is more than a double the saturated fat used in snack. The saturated fat used in dinner is almost double the added sugar in lunch. USe of sodium in snack and breakfast is identical. Saturated fat and addThe percentages of three nutrients namely sodium, saturated fat and added sugar are illustrated in the given pie charts.
ed sugar are used 16% in breakfast.
Majority of added sugar is used in snacks which constitue 42% of the total followed by dinner with 23% contribution. There is a negligible difference of 3% in use of added sugar in breakfast and lunch. Saturated fat and sodium are mostly used in dinner with 37% and 43% respectively both followed by lunch with 26% and 29% respectively.
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 covers all key parts of the charts, providing an overview and making relevant comparisons. For instance, the student correctly identifies that dinner accounts for the highest proportions of sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), while snacks dominate added sugar (42%). However, the organization of ideas is severely compromised by fragmented drafting and repetitive phrasing in the opening sections. Furthermore, some comparisons are awkward or imprecise, such as comparing sodium in dinner directly to saturated fat in snacks without clear analytical purpose. While the main features are reported, the lack of a cohesive structure in the introduction impacts the overall clarity of task completion.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
Coherence and cohesion suffer greatly from structural disruptions in the first half of the response. The student writes fragments, repeats sentences, and embeds mid-sentence interruptions (e.g., 'Saturated fat and addThe percentages of three nutrients...ed sugar are used 16% in breakfast.'), which disrupts the logical flow and progression. Although paragraphing is attempted in the final portion of the text, referencing and logical sequencing are hindered by disjointed sentences. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes mechanical, resulting in an arrangement that is difficult to follow initially before improving slightly in the final paragraph.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting less common phrases such as 'prima facie glance', 'negligible difference', and 'constitue' (though misspelled). However, there are notable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'nutrients are mostly used in dinner' instead of consumed or eaten, and several spelling mistakes like 'constitue'. Despite these inaccuracies, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning of the data, allowing the reader to understand the percentages and comparisons reported.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
Grammatical control is inconsistent throughout the response. While there are a few correct complex structures, such as 'Majority of added sugar is used in snacks which constitue 42%...', the text contains severe structural breakdowns, sentence fragments, and typographical errors. The most notable issue is the mid-sentence cut-off where another sentence is clumsily inserted. Errors in article usage and prepositions (e.g., 'in same proportion') also occur. While simple sentences are generally understandable, the frequency of structural errors and mechanical slips pulls the grammar score down.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.