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 average percentage of of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar consumed in everyday meals in the USA and can be dangerous for health if taken too much.

Overall,the three nutrients quantity in the dinner is highest while in the breakfast it remain the lowest and in snacks and lunch he quantity fluctuates.

In the dinner the quantity of three nutrients is largest with 43% in sodium ,37% in saturated fat and 23% added sugar while in lunch 29% sodium,26% saturated fat and 19% added sugar is averagely consumed.

However the nutrients quantity is the breakfast is the lowest with 14% sodium and 16% saturated fat and added sugar while in snacks the ratio fluctuates with 14% sodium, 21 saturated fat and 4

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three nutrients and report several accurate figures, including dinner’s 43% sodium and 37% saturated fat, and lunch’s 29% sodium. However, the response only partially covers the chart: it ends mid-sentence at “and 4,” so the snack data for added sugar is missing, even though this is a key feature (42%, the highest snack share). The overview also incorrectly says breakfast is lowest for all three nutrients; added sugar is lowest at breakfast, but sodium is equally low at breakfast and snacks. The response is 126 words, below the required 150, which limits the detail and comparisons provided. Include a complete overview and report the contrasting snack pattern to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph giving figures for meals. This helps the reader recognise the intended organisation, and “Overall” and “However” signal relationships between points. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph stops abruptly at “and 4,” leaving the snack comparison incomplete. Some linking is also awkward: “However” introduces a point that does not clearly contrast with the preceding sentence, and the overview’s reference to quantities that “fluctuates” is vague. Organise the details into clear comparisons—for example, dinner and lunch together, followed by breakfast and snacks—and use linking words only where the relationship is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses relevant chart vocabulary, including “average percentage,” “consumed,” “nutrients,” and “ratio,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive. “The nutrients quantity” is repeated instead of using a natural phrase such as “the proportion of each nutrient,” while “quantity … is largest” is not an appropriate way to describe percentages. The phrase “he quantity fluctuates” appears to contain a typing error, and “dangerous for health if taken too much” is imprecise. Aim for accurate terms such as “share,” “proportion,” and “accounted for,” and check spelling and phrasing before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “while” and an overview beginning with “Overall.” However, frequent errors affect clarity. The opening has duplicated wording (“percentage of of”) and subject–verb disagreement (“The charts illustrates”). Other examples include “it remain the lowest,” “the quantity is the breakfast,” and the incomplete final sentence. Articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries also need attention; for example, write “the proportion in breakfast remains the lowest” and ensure each sentence is complete. Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and a comma before a space in “sodium ,37%.” Practise checking each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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