Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-08
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 5.0)
The following chart illustrates the average percentages of sodium,saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in USA.
Overall in breakfast saturated fat and added sugar is consumed 16% and sodium is consumed 14%. The highest nutrient is being taken is sodium in dinner about 43%. In sugar snack is consumed 42% which is near to sodium.In lunch sugar is taken 19%,saturated fat is 26%,sodium is 29%.In breakfast saturated fat is consumed 16%, sodium is 14%.
In dinner sugar is consumed 23%,saturated fat is 37%,
and sodium is 43%.Among all the three nutrients the highest percentage is of sodium in dinner and least percentage is also of sodium in lunch and breakfast.And compare to sugar is reaching nearly to sodium.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify several relevant figures, including dinner sodium at 43%, snack added sugar at 42%, and the lunch values. However, the overview is unclear and does not accurately summarise the main pattern: sodium and saturated fat peak at dinner, while added sugar peaks in snacks. The claim that sodium has the lowest percentage in lunch and breakfast is inaccurate; its lowest value is 14% at both breakfast and snacks. The comparison that sugar is “nearly to sodium” is also vague and does not specify which meal or nutrient. The response is below the required 150 words, with 108 words counted; the 14 words copied from the prompt were excluded. Develop a clear overview and report the key contrasts more fully.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0
The response includes relevant information, but its organisation does not guide the reader through the chart clearly. The opening is followed by an overview-like statement, then meal figures are repeated: breakfast appears twice, and dinner is described again near the end. This repetition limits progression and makes the comparisons difficult to follow. Linking is also weak; phrases such as “And compare to sugar” do not clearly connect the ideas. Use a distinct introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs grouped by the main patterns—for example, dinner and lunch figures, then breakfast and snack figures. Avoid repeating values and use clear comparison links such as “whereas” and “by contrast.”
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is sufficient to name the three nutrients and meals, and terms such as “highest percentage” help communicate basic comparisons. However, the range is limited and several expressions are awkward or imprecise, including “The highest nutrient is being taken” and “sugar is reaching nearly to sodium.” These phrases make the intended comparison harder to understand. “Consumed” is also repeated frequently, and “sugar” is less precise than “added sugar” when describing the chart category. Aim for accurate chart language such as “accounted for,” “was highest in,” and “the proportion of added sugar.” Varying these expressions and choosing precise comparison phrases would make the report clearer and more natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response relies mainly on short, simple statements, with limited variety in sentence structures. Errors in agreement and sentence formation occur in examples such as “saturated fat and added sugar is consumed” and “The highest nutrient is being taken is sodium.” The phrase “Among all the three nutrients the highest percentage is of sodium” is also awkwardly constructed, and punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and a sentence fragment-like ending. These problems sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow, although the individual figures remain understandable. Practise forming clear comparison sentences, for example, “Sodium was highest at dinner, at 43%, whereas added sugar peaked in snacks, at 42%.”
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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