Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04

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 pie chart below shows the percentage in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

The lowest percentage of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar are in breakfast.The highest amount of sodium are present in dinner is 43 percent. In the lunch 29 percent sodium are present and in the snack and breakfast are present 14 percent.

The highest amount of saturated fat are present in dinner is 37 percent. In the lunch its amount is 26 percent and the amount of saturated fat in snack is 21 percent. In the breakfast is 16 percent.

The highest amount of added sugar are present in snack. it is 42 percent. In the dinner the amount of added sugar is 23 percent . The 19 percent added sugar are present in lunch. The lowest percentage of sugar are present in breakfast. It is 16 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the highest and lowest percentages for each nutrient. However, the report lacks an overview or summary statement, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. The information is presented as a list of data points rather than a cohesive summary. While the key figures are mentioned, the lack of a clear synthesis of the data and the absence of an introductory overview mean the response does not fully meet the requirements for higher bands. To improve, you should group the data more effectively and provide a clear summary of the main trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is mechanical and repetitive. Each sentence follows a similar structure ('The highest amount of... is...'), which makes the text feel like a list rather than a coherent report. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link the sentences and paragraphs smoothly. For example, the transition between the different nutrients is abrupt. Using a wider variety of linking words such as 'in contrast', 'furthermore', or 'conversely' would help improve the flow and logical connection between the ideas presented.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'are present in' and 'the amount of', which restricts the range of your writing. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic information, there is no attempt to use less common or more precise lexical items. To achieve a higher band, try to vary your word choices and use more sophisticated terminology to describe data trends, such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'a significant proportion'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The lowest percentage... are', 'The highest amount... are'). Additionally, there are issues with punctuation and sentence construction, such as 'In the lunch 29 percent sodium are present and in the snack and breakfast are present 14 percent.' These errors are noticeable and occasionally make the text difficult to read. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and attempt to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or subordinate clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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