Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-21
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.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The charts illustrate the central percentage in three types of nutrients in typical meals and which can be more dangerous for health if eaten consistently.
Overall, we can the heavy consumption of sodium, saturated fats and sugars in typical meals in the USA. The percentage show s mostly people use it in the dinner and the lowest rate of using these fats are in lunch.
People often use sodium, saturated fats in dinner which is 43 to 37 in percentage and in the breakfast they use it almost 17%. It can be seen 14% to 21% of sodium and saturated fats used in snacks by the people of USA.
The huge usage of sugar can be seen in snacks by the population of USA, and they often use sugar almost 23 percent in their dinner. The 19 percent usage of sugar can be seen the lunch and the lowest one is 16% in the breakfast.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the charts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision in reporting data. For instance, the statement '43 to 37 in percentage' is unclear as it does not specify which nutrient corresponds to which figure. Additionally, the overview is slightly inaccurate, as the data does not support the claim that sodium and saturated fats are lowest at lunch across the board. While the main trends are identified, the lack of clear comparative language and the imprecise reporting of figures prevent this from reaching a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes repetitive. Phrases like 'It can be seen' and 'The 19 percent usage of sugar can be seen' are used frequently, which limits the flow. The logical progression between sentences is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs. While the paragraphing is functional, the lack of varied linking words and the somewhat disjointed sentence structure impact the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Words like 'usage', 'percentage', and 'typical' are used frequently. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'central percentage' instead of 'average percentage' and 'mostly people use it' instead of 'the majority of consumption occurs'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common or more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'account for', or 'fluctuate'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'we can the heavy consumption' (missing verb), 'The percentage show s mostly people' (subject-verb agreement and word order issues), and 'the lowest one is 16% in the breakfast' (article usage). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. The control over punctuation and sentence construction is inconsistent, which limits the score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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