Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-12

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 three charts illustrate the average percentage in typical meals of three different types namely, Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar which are unhealthy food if individuals eaten too much.

Overall, it is clear that in all three part the snack rose dramatically except dinner and lunch due to it decline rapidly. It is noticeable that breakfast remain stable at one ratio over the unhealthy items.

To commence, firstly Sodium majority of citizens were using dinner accounted for 43%, while the fewest snack and brakfast at 14% in typical meals. Moreover, lunch come at second rank in unhealthy food in which adult using more approximately 29%. In addition, the Saturated fat in comparestion to sodium the dinner ratio drop from 43% to 37% also lunch 29% to 26%. Nevertheless, snack and breakfast rise marginally.

On the other hand, lastly Added sugar youngster were more preffering to eat snack and it come at first postion at 42%. Similarly, the ratio again plummet in dinner and lunch respectively 23% and 19%. Not only in saturated fat remain constant in brakfast but also sugar remain unchange as it is 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three nutrients and report several key figures accurately, including dinner as the largest source of sodium (43%) and added sugar as highest in snacks (42%). However, the overview is not reliable: “the snack rose dramatically except dinner and lunch” does not clearly describe the charts, and dinner and lunch do not decline over time; these are meal categories being compared. The claim that breakfast “remain[s] stable at one ratio” is also unclear, since its shares differ slightly for sodium (14%) and the other two nutrients (16%). Develop a clearer overview of the main contrasts—for example, dinner leads for sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar—and describe the figures as proportions rather than changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure, with an introduction, an overview, and separate discussion of sodium/saturated fat and added sugar. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “On the other hand” signal a shift. However, progression is weakened by unclear or inaccurate links: “snack rose dramatically” suggests change over time, while “due to it decline rapidly” does not explain the comparison. The long middle paragraph moves from sodium to saturated fat without a clear transition, and “To commence, firstly” is redundant. Use one paragraph to compare the meal shares for sodium and saturated fat, then another for added sugar, with straightforward links such as “By contrast” and “Similarly.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “ratio,” “respectively,” and “marginally,” and you attempt a range of expressions. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing percentages: “rose dramatically,” “plummet,” and “preferring to eat” imply change or preference rather than shares in a chart. Phrases such as “in comparestion to sodium” and “first postion” also reduce precision, while spelling errors in “brakfast” and “preffering” are noticeable. Choose neutral reporting language and use it consistently: “accounted for,” “represented,” “was the highest,” and “was lower.” This would make the comparisons clearer and more appropriately academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex forms, including “while” comparisons and the “Not only…but also” construction. However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. For example, “in all three part” has a number-agreement error, “breakfast remain stable” lacks subject–verb agreement, and “individuals eaten too much” uses an incorrect verb form. Several clauses are also incomplete or awkwardly joined, as in “Moreover, the Saturated fat in comparestion to sodium the dinner ratio drop…” and “Added sugar youngster were more…” Aim first for accurate, complete sentences: “For saturated fat, dinner accounted for 37%, compared with 43% for sodium.” Check verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries before adding complex structures.

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