Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-06

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 demonstrates, what percentage of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar are taken by the citizens of USA in their daily meals.

Overall, the major amount of sodium is consumed at the time of dinner. However, a comparatively lesser percentage of added sugar is eaten in the same course of meal.

The percentage of sodium taken at the time of dinner rules the chart by 43% falling behind is lunch at 29%, however snacks and breakfast are standing at 14% respectively. The amount of saturated fat taken in dinner is 37% and breakfast contains a very small amount of saturated fat which is 16%. Nevertheless, the value of nutrient consumed while snacking and lunches is somewhere in the middle at snacks being at 21% and with a decrease of 5% lunch contains

Moreover, added sugar is completely different from the rest of the nutrients. It stands at a whopping 42% the snacks as they are the most unhealthy meal. On the other hand, breakfast and lunch has a difference of 3% which is comparatively less than dinner at 23%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons across the categories of sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars. An overview is successfully presented in the second paragraph, capturing the main trend regarding dinner and added sugar. However, some areas are under-developed or lack full clarity. For instance, the text cuts off mid-sentence when discussing lunch for saturated fat: "with a decrease of 5% lunch contains ". Additionally, certain comparisons, such as grouping breakfast and lunch together or describing snack consumption, could have been extended more fully to reach a higher level of development. Figures are generally reported accurately, matching the visual data provided, such as identifying the 43% peak for sodium at dinner and the 42% peak for added sugar in snacks.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt at paragraphing, separating the introduction, overview, and body details. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty or mechanical. Words like "however", "nevertheless", and "moreover" are used to link sentences, but referencing is occasionally unclear or abrupt. For example, the abrupt transition in the third paragraph ("falling behind is lunch at 29%, however snacks and breakfast are standing at 14% respectively") creates a slightly mechanical flow. Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt ending of the third paragraph and the disjointed connection into the final paragraph indicate that information is not always logically sequenced or fully controlled throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items and descriptive phrases such as "rules the chart", "a whopping 42%", and "completely different from the rest". However, there are some word-choice and collocation errors that reflect this band level, such as "taken at the time of dinner" instead of "consumed at dinner", and "at snacks being at 21%". Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and while these lexical limitations and slight awkwardness in phrasing do not impede communication, they prevent the vocabulary from reaching a more flexible and precise standard.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures such as relative clauses and subordinate clauses (e.g., "The chart demonstrates, what percentage of..."). There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, including unnecessary commas (e.g., after "demonstrates"), incorrect prepositions (e.g., "consumed at the time of dinner", "taken in dinner"), and an incomplete sentence structure towards the end of the third paragraph. While these errors occur regularly, they rarely impede communication, and the writer shows a reasonable ability to form understandable sentences despite the limited overall grammatical control and incomplete syntax.

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

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