Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-03

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 show the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Overall, three types of nutrients are described in the given charts: sodium, saturated fat and added sugar which are contained in the typical meals of USA.

Firstly, we can see that sodium, which is the scientific name of salt that we consume in different types of meals. Most amount of sodium is contained in dinner at 43%, while the least amount is contained in both breakfast and snack at 14%. The highest amount of saturated fat (oils etc.) in our meals is in dinner at 37%, whereas the lowest amount is conatined in breakfast at 16%.

Finally, the greatest amount of added sugar is in snacks at 42%, while the lowest amount is in breakfast at 16%. It is crystal clear that the healthiest meal that we eat in a day is definitely breakfast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses the task only partially, and the length requirement is not met as the essay contains 134 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum (additionally, 25 words copied directly from the prompt were not counted). While the student attempts to summarise the charts by mentioning sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar, the information is presented with limited development. Key features are noted, such as dinner having the highest sodium and saturated fat percentages, and snacks leading in added sugar. However, there is no true overview provided beyond a basic introductory restatement, and the concluding claim that breakfast is 'definitely the healthiest meal' is an unsupported generalization not directly derived from the data. To reach a higher band, the writer must meet the minimum word count, avoid copying the prompt, develop the response more fully, and present a clear overview of the main trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response exhibits some organisation, but there is no clear overall progression of ideas. The text is divided into a short introduction, a body paragraph discussing sodium and saturated fat, and a concluding paragraph handling added sugar and a final verdict. Cohesive devices are somewhat mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on transitional phrases like 'Firstly' and 'Finally', while referencing is not always completely clear. Paragraphing is attempted, but the logical flow between sentences and paragraphs feels disjointed rather than steadily progressive. To improve in this area, the writer should employ a wider and more natural variety of cohesive links, ensure ideas are sequenced with a smoother logical progression, and construct a cohesive overview paragraph that ties the data together effectively.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey basic information about the charts. The student uses appropriate basic terms such as 'percentages', 'typical meals', and specific nutrient names, but attempts at less common vocabulary result in noticeable errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'Most amount of sodium is contained' instead of 'The highest proportion of sodium is found'. There are also spelling and word-form errors, notably 'conatined' instead of 'contained'. The range of vocabulary lacks flexibility and precision. To achieve a higher score, the writer needs to expand their lexical repertoire by incorporating more sophisticated synonyms and paraphrasing language, while demonstrating better control over word forms, collocations, and accurate spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response displays a limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside a few basic complex forms. Attempts at more complex structures are often clumsy or repetitive, such as 'sodium, which is the scientific name of salt that we consume in different types of meals.' There are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation throughout the text, including awkward phrasing, incorrect prepositions, and slight subject-verb or article inaccuracies, which can occasionally cause some difficulty for the reader. To move up to the next band, the writer must incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence patterns with good control, significantly reducing the frequency of grammatical errors and ensuring that all sentences are constructed accurately.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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