Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-02
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 BELOW ILLUSTRATE THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF DIFFRENT TYPE OF NUTRIENTS CONSUMED BY POPULATION OF USA IN THERE MEALS WHICH MAY BE ON A UNHEALTHY SIDE.
TO COMMENCE WITH , IN DINNER SODIUM TAKES THE HIGHEST PROPOTION OF NEARLY HALF FOLLOWED BY SATURATED FAT AND ADDED SUGAR WITH NEARLY 37 AND 23 PERCENT, HOWEVER ADDED SUGAR IS CONSUMED MOST DURING SNACK TIME THAT IS 42 PERCENT HOWEVER SATURATED FAT IS EXACTLY HALF OF IT AND SODIUM BEING LOWEST WITH 14 PERCENT.
ADDITIONALLY, ALL THREE OF THEM IS COMSUMED ALMOST IDENTICAL DURING BREAKFAST THAT IS 15 PERCENT.DURING LUNCH SODIUM AND SATURATED FAT SHARES ALMOST SAME PROPOTION OF 27 PERCENT AND ADDED SUGAR BEING 19 PERCENT .
IN CONCLUSION, DINNER IS MOST UNHEALTHY MEAL CONSUMED BY THE POPULATION OF USA FOLLOWED BY SNACKING HOWEVER BREAKFAST BEING MOST HEALTHY AMOMG ALL MEALS. SODIUM IS THE NUTRIENT CONSUMED MOST AMOMG ALL.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by reporting the main features of the charts, but it falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 148 words. The selection of data is generally relevant, such as noting that dinner has the highest proportion of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead in added sugar. However, some reported figures are slightly inaccurate compared to the visual data; for example, the breakfast percentage for all three nutrients is around 15 to 16 percent rather than an identical 15 percent, and lunch proportions are miscalculated in places. The overview is present in the conclusion, but the overall development remains limited and under-developed due to the lack of a clear summary of all key trends.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays some organization with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, but it lacks a clear overall progression. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas is somewhat disjointed. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often mechanical and repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'however' and 'that is'. Additionally, referencing and logical flow are occasionally faulty, making the relationships between the data points less clear than they could be. To improve, you should use a wider variety of transitional phrases and ensure each paragraph focuses logically on a distinct feature of the data without repetitive linking words.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. There are noticeable lexical errors, such as spelling mistakes ('DIFFRENT', 'PROPOTION', 'AMOMG', 'COMSUMED'), wrong word forms ('there meals' instead of 'their meals'), and awkward phrasing like 'on a unhealthy side'. The range of vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple terms like 'highest', 'lowest', and 'same'. While communication is not entirely blocked, these frequent errors and the lack of less common lexical items restrict the score. To progress, focus on accurate spelling, precise word choice, and incorporating a broader range of academic synonyms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response relies on a limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex sentences often result in grammatical errors. There are frequent issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition use, such as 'all three of them is comsumed' and 'in dinner' instead of 'at dinner'. Punctuation is also problematic, including run-on sentences and missing commas around inserted clauses. These frequent errors can cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect a restricted control over grammatical forms. To improve, work on forming error-free complex sentences, mastering basic subject-verb agreement, and polishing punctuation.
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