Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-01
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 bar chart illustrates the average percentage in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Overall, In sodium and saturated fat dinner showed the largest propotion while, snacks and breakfast represented the smallest propotion in sodium and breakfast accounted for the smallest propotion in saturated fat. In added sugar, snacks made up largest propotion whereas, breakfact showed the smallest propotion.
In Sodium, dinner stood at 43% which was the heighest amoung all.This was followed by lunch at 29% and snacks at 14%. The remaining breakfast also made up 14%. In saturated fat, Dinner accounted for 37% and lunch at 26%. The snacks made up 21% and the remaining breakfast showed the smallest propotion of 16%.
On the other hand, In added sugar, Snacks stood at 42% which was the heighest. This was followed by dinner at 23% and lunch at 19%. The breakfast made up 16% of the total.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You report the main pattern accurately: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. Most figures are also correct, including sodium at 43% for dinner and added sugar at 42% for snacks. The overview identifies the key contrasts, although its wording about the smallest shares is unclear, and the report could compare the meal patterns more directly. The response is 141 words, below the 150-word minimum; 18 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. This limits how fully the data can be developed. To strengthen the response, clarify the overview and add a concise comparison, such as how added sugar differs from the other nutrients by peaking at snacks rather than dinner.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for sodium/saturated fat and added sugar. This makes the information generally easy to follow. However, progression within sentences is sometimes awkward or repetitive. For example, “This was followed by” is used for several sequences, and “the remaining breakfast” does not clearly connect the figures. The overview also combines several comparisons in a long sentence, making the smallest proportions difficult to track. Use clearer links between related data and vary the way comparisons are introduced. More precise referencing and smoother transitions would make the organisation feel less mechanical while preserving the useful paragraph structure.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “stood at,” “largest,” and “smallest,” so the reader can understand the main comparisons. However, the range is repetitive, particularly through repeated use of “propotion” and “made up,” and several spelling errors reduce accuracy: “heighest,” “amoung,” and “breakfact.” Some phrasing is also imprecise, such as “the remaining breakfast,” which does not naturally describe a percentage. Aim for accurate spelling and more varied, natural expressions for proportions and rankings. These improvements would make the report more precise and fluent without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You produce a mix of simple statements and some longer comparative sentences, and the figures are usually presented in understandable structures. However, errors in punctuation, capitalisation, and sentence construction occur in several places. For example, “Overall, In sodium” incorrectly capitalises “In,” while “dinner stood at 43% which was the heighest amoung all.This was followed” needs punctuation and a clearer sentence boundary. The overview’s clause beginning “while” is also awkwardly joined to the preceding comparison. Use consistent lowercase for meal names, place commas and full stops carefully, and check that each comparison forms a complete, clearly connected sentence. Greater control of these patterns would improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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