Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-10

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 charts illustrates the information of average percentages in typical meals which are divied into three various ratios.

Overall, the highest percentage showed in sodium which is in dinner but saturated fats has less in dinner as compared to sodium even,sugar which is added in dinner is the least .

To begin with, In three differnets meals dinner has highest sodium but in dinner only 43% of saturated fat included. Also, In snack 42% of sugar is added as compared to other meals because they are ususally packed food . Now,The least percentage of sodium take place in snack and breakfast for 14% As, the less amount of sugar is added in breakfast as there is less portion but, saturated fats also include less in breakfast .

Furthermore, the average percentage of various substance in the different meals .As sodium in lunch in 29%, 26% in saturated fats even sugar for lunch is 19%.Also different has less meals with portion.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important features, including dinner as the largest source of sodium (43%) and added sugar being highest in snacks (42%). You also report the lunch figures accurately. However, the overview is unclear and contains a key misreading: dinner has the highest, not the lowest, share of saturated fat, at 37%; breakfast is lowest for this nutrient. The claim that dinner has the least added sugar is also incorrect, since breakfast is lowest at 16%. The explanation about snacks being “usually packed food” is not shown by the charts and should be omitted. To strengthen the response, give a clear overview of the contrasting peaks and lows, then compare the meal figures accurately and consistently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is an attempt to organise the response with an opening, an overview, and paragraphs beginning “To begin with” and “Furthermore.” This gives the reader some signposting, and the response mentions figures for several meals. However, the progression is difficult to follow: the first body paragraph moves between dinner, snacks, and breakfast, while the final paragraph lists lunch values without explaining their significance. Linking words such as “Also” and “Now” are repeated or used mechanically, and some references, such as “different has less meals with portion,” are unclear. Group the information by meaningful comparisons—for example, dinner’s high sodium and saturated fat versus snacks’ high sugar—and use transitions that show those relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “average percentages,” “sodium,” “saturated fats,” “added sugar,” and “included.” This shows an attempt to describe the data, but the range and control are limited, and several expressions make the meaning difficult to understand. Phrases such as “three various ratios,” “different meals with portion,” and “the least percentage … take place” are not natural ways to describe chart proportions. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “divied,” “differnets,” and “ususally.” Use precise terms such as “share,” “proportion,” and “accounted for,” and check spelling and collocations. Avoid adding explanations about food packaging that the chart does not provide.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, and the response is generally recognisable as a description of the charts. However, sentence structures are often faulty, which sometimes makes relationships between figures unclear. For example, “The charts illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “Overall, the highest percentage showed in sodium” lacks a clear grammatical construction. Several sentences begin with incomplete or poorly connected clauses, such as “Furthermore, the average percentage of various substance in the different meals.” Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, particularly after “Also” and “Now.” Practise complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use patterns such as “Dinner accounted for 43% of sodium” and “Breakfast had the lowest share of saturated fat.”

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