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 chart illustrates the average percentage in typical meals of three types of nutrients, sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Overall, the most striking trend is that sodium accounts for the highest percentage of nutrients at dinner, at 43%. While, at breakfast, saturated fat and added sugar both account for the same percentage, at 16%.

Regarding dinner meals, sodium accounts for the highest percentage, at 43%, whereas saturated fat is lower, at 37%, and added sugar is lower still, at 23%. sodium accounts for just 14%, saturated fat rises to 21%, and added sugar accounts for the highest percentage, at 42%. Furthermore, in breakfast meals, sodium accounts for 14%, while saturated fat and added sugar are both slightly higher, at the same percentage of 16%. Lastly, at lunch, sodium accounts for 29%, saturated fat is lower, at 26%, and added sugar is lower still, at 19%.

In conclusion, all meals involve these three nutrients to differing degrees, but overall, the highest consumption of these nutrients occurs at dinner.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main parts of the task by reporting the average percentages of the three nutrients across the four meal categories, meeting the minimum word count requirement while noting that 18 words were copied directly from the prompt. However, the development of ideas is uneven. While you mention some key data points, the overview and body paragraphs miss a fully cohesive synthesis of the overall patterns. For instance, you accurately identify that sodium peaks at dinner (43%), but the structural flow of the data points in the middle paragraph is disjointed—there is a missing transition or incomplete reference before 'sodium accounts for just 14%, saturated fat rises to 21%...' which leaves snack data abrupt and floating. To reach a higher band, ensure all information is clearly introduced, linked to the correct meal category, and supported by a more robust overview that highlights the most striking broader comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic logical arrangement in the response, moving from an introduction to body paragraphs and a concluding sentence, but overall progression is hindered by mechanical and faulty cohesion. Paragraphing is attempted, yet the central body paragraph suffers from severe structural confusion; a sentence abruptly drops a meal category context ('sodium accounts for just 14%...') right in the middle of discussing dinner and snacks without a clear signpost. Furthermore, referencing and cohesive devices are inadequately handled, creating a jerky reading experience where the reader must work hard to link the data back to the correct meals. To improve, you should organize your details into distinct, logically ordered paragraphs—perhaps grouping by meal or by nutrient—and use referencing words and transition markers more naturally to guide the reader smoothly through the comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'percentage', 'nutrient', 'sodium', 'saturated fat', and 'added sugar'. You attempt some less common functional vocabulary and descriptive phrasing like 'the most striking trend', 'accounts for', and 'differing degrees'. However, there are minor inaccuracies and repetitive phrasing, such as the constant reuse of 'accounts for' and 'is lower' across multiple sentences. While these limitations do not seriously impede communication, spelling and word choice lack the precision and variety seen at higher bands. To progress, try incorporating a wider range of synonyms and varied verbs to describe data movement and proportions, such as 'comprises', 'represents', 'constitutes', or 'marginal differences'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing introductory dependent clauses such as 'Regarding dinner meals...' and 'While, at breakfast...'. There are some successful constructions, but grammar and punctuation control is inconsistent, containing frequent errors that occasionally strain comprehension. A notable issue is punctuation control, such as the unnecessary comma splice and fragment after 'While' in the second sentence. Additionally, there are awkward phrasings and prepositional slips within your clauses. To achieve a higher score, you need to produce a higher proportion of error-free complex sentences, ensure subordinate clauses are punctuated correctly without fragmenting thoughts, and carefully review your subject-verb agreements and modifying phrases before final submission.

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.