Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-26
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 given chart illustrates the information about average percentages of meals in three types of nutrients consume in USA.
Overall, it is clear that percentage of sodium and saturated fats in higher in dinner than in others and added sugar looks more in snack. Addintionally, the lowest percentage of all these nutrients is in breakfast.
If we look at percentage of sodium that is 43% in dinner, 14% in both snack and breakfast and 29% in lunch. People consume 37% saturated fats in dinner, 21% in snack, 16% in breakfast and 26% in lunch. The given percentage for added sugar is 42% in snack, 23% in dinner, 16% in breakfast and 19% in lunch.
If we compare all these given data, it is cleared that citizens in USA consume more sodium and saturated fat during dinner time and less in the time of breakfast. Added sugar more in snack and have lowest level in breakfast.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
You report the main figures accurately, including dinner as the highest meal for sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), and snacks as the highest for added sugar (42%). Your overview identifies these broad contrasts and notes breakfast’s low shares. This covers the task well, and the accurate data support your summary. To make the overview more complete and precise, qualify the breakfast claim: it is tied for the lowest sodium share with snacks, while breakfast is lowest for saturated fat and added sugar. You could also highlight the contrast between dinner’s dominance for the first two nutrients and snacks’ dominance for sugar. These comparisons are present in the details, but are not fully drawn together in the overview.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph listing figures, and a concluding comparison. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the final paragraph largely repeats the overview, while the data paragraph presents three lists in a similar sequence rather than grouping the most useful comparisons. Linking phrases such as “If we look at” and “If we compare” are repetitive and make the progression feel mechanical. Improve cohesion by grouping dinner and snack patterns together, then comparing breakfast and lunch, and use clearer references such as “the former” or “this figure” where appropriate. A more purposeful final sentence could synthesise the contrast instead of restating it.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “consume,” “saturated fats,” and “added sugar,” and the nutrient names are generally clear. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, such as “nutrients consume,” “looks more in snack,” and “the given percentage for added sugar.” “Addintionally” is also misspelled. Repeated use of “percentage” and “given” makes the report sound less precise. Aim for natural chart-reporting collocations such as “accounts for,” “makes up,” and “the proportion of,” while varying how you describe the figures. Check spelling and use the correct form of words before submitting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the meaning of most figures remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, particularly in the overview and concluding sentences: “percentage of sodium and saturated fats in higher” lacks an article and has an incorrect verb form, while “Added sugar more in snack” is missing a verb. The opening phrase “nutrients consume in USA” also has an incomplete grammatical structure. Several data statements are fragments, for example “If we look at percentage of sodium that is 43% in dinner,” rather than complete sentences. Practise forming complete clauses with a clear subject and verb, and check articles and agreement. For example: “Sodium accounts for 43% at dinner, compared with 29% at lunch.”
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.