Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-29
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 chart below illustrate the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be bad for health if eaten too much. The average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in USA.
Overall, dinner has the highest percentage of sodium and saturated fat. While, snacks has the highest percentage of added sugar in it. Snacks and breakfast have equal percentage of sodium available in it and is 14%. Lunch has 29% of sodium present in it. Breakfast contains 16% of saturated fat and added sugar.
Thus, dinner has 43% of sodium and 37% of saturated fat. Breakfast has lowest percentage of about 16% of saturated sugar in it. Lunch has 19% of added sugar in it and dinner has 23% of added sugar in it.
Resultantly, breakfast has the lowest percentage of all nutrients. Dinner has highest percentage of sodium and saturated fat. While snacks have highest percentage of added sugar in it.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features and making relevant comparisons across the three nutrients and four meal types. The overview effectively highlights key trends, such as dinner having the highest sodium and saturated fat, and snacks leading in added sugar. Data points are generally accurate, citing figures like 43% for sodium at dinner and 42% for added sugar in snacks. However, there are minor inaccuracies in data reporting; for example, the student states that breakfast has 16% of 'saturated sugar' (a confused term combining saturated fat and added sugar) and mentions breakfast has the lowest percentage of all nutrients, which overlooks specific individual data points. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, fulfilling the main requirements of Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a coherent overall arrangement and attempts logical organisation by grouping ideas into an introduction, body details, and a summary. Cohesive devices are used, but they are sometimes mechanical or awkwardly placed, such as starting consecutive sentences with 'Thus' and 'Resultantly'. Paragraphing is attempted, though the division of ideas into very short, repetitive sentences hinders smooth progression. Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in phrases like 'is 14%' without a clear subject. While the text is readable and follows a logical path from overview to specific data, the overuse of formulaic transitions prevents it from reaching a higher band.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'average percentages', 'nutrient', 'highest percentage', and 'consumed'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word combinations, most notably the coinage 'saturated sugar' instead of saturated fat or added sugar. Other minor phrasing issues occur, such as 'available in it' and 'present in it'. Spelling is generally accurate, but the limited control over precise terminology and collocations keeps the lexical score at a modest level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though simple structures predominate. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'The chart below illustrate' (subject-verb agreement error), 'While, snacks has' (incorrect punctuation and agreement), and 'equal percentage of sodium available in it and is 14%'. Punctuation is occasionally faulty, particularly with unnecessary commas separating clauses ('While, snacks has...'). Although these errors do not severely impede overall communication, their frequency prevents the response from achieving a higher band score.
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