Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-14

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 illustrates the average proportion in typical meals of three different kinds of nutrients,all of them could potentially be unhealthy if consumed in large amount.

Overall, it is visible that the largest percentage of added sugar is consumed while snacking on the other hand the charts of sodium and saturated fats are quite similler, being consumed mostly in dinner

Most of the added sugar, 42% to be precise is consu ed in form of snacks, 23% by dinner and 19% by lunch ,Moreover;tge percantage of added sugar and saturated fats in breakfast is the same at 16% while saturated fats in lunch,dinner and snacks are 26%, 37% and 21% respectively

Added sugar are 23% in dinner whereas sodium in dinner is 43% but sodium in sancks is 14% whilst added sugar in snacks is 42% all three vales of. Reakfast are simillier being 16% each of sugars and fats while 14% being sodium. The sodium in lunch accumulates to about 29% according to the data given

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast accurately: added sugar peaks in snacks at 42%, while sodium and saturated fat are highest at dinner, at 43% and 37%. You also include several relevant figures, including sodium at lunch and the equal 16% breakfast shares for sugar and saturated fat. This addresses the task, but some comparisons are incomplete or unclear: the overview says sodium and saturated fat are “quite similar” without explaining how their meal patterns differ, and the final paragraph repeats figures already given rather than developing a new comparison. To strengthen the report, summarise the overall patterns more precisely and compare the three nutrients across meals in a more systematic way, while ensuring every figure is clearly attached to its nutrient and meal.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable introduction, overview and detail paragraphs, and it generally moves from the broad pattern to specific percentages. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the final paragraph revisits the dinner, snack and breakfast comparisons already mentioned. Linking is also sometimes mechanical or confusing, as in “on the other hand” and “whilst” where the relationship between the figures is not fully clear. The long final sentence combines several comparisons without clear boundaries, making the information harder to follow. Organise the details by meal or by nutrient, avoid repeating the same figures, and use shorter sentences with explicit comparisons so each paragraph has a clear purpose.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary such as “average proportion,” “percentage,” “consumed” and “accumulates,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation and spelling problems reduce precision. “The largest percentage … is consumed while snacking” is less natural than saying that snacks account for the largest share, and “similler,” “percantage,” “sancks” and “simillier” are misspelled. “In large amount” is also an awkward phrase. Aim for accurate, natural expressions for describing proportions and comparisons, and proofread spelling carefully; precise vocabulary is especially important when reporting data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts at complex sentences, including the opening description and comparisons using “while” and “whereas,” but control is inconsistent. The opening has subject–verb disagreement (“The charts illustrates”) and a comma splice before “all of them.” Other examples include “Added sugar are 23%” and the incomplete construction “being consumed mostly in dinner.” Punctuation is also unreliable: the overview lacks a full stop, and the final paragraph contains several clauses joined without clear sentence boundaries. These errors sometimes make relationships between figures difficult to interpret. Practise accurate agreement and complete sentence structures, and separate comparisons into shorter sentences with appropriate punctuation.

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