Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-08
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 pie charts illustrate the average proportions of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in meals which can be unhealthy if eaten excessive amount,
Overall, it is clear that dinner is mostly high in sodium and saturated fat, while sugar is dominated in added sugar. Additionally, breakfast has a balanced proportions in all nutrients.
Dinner contains average 43% of sodium, 37% of saturated fat which are the largest figure, and 23% of added sugar. While, breakfast is relatively low in all nutrients, with 14% of sodium, 16% of saturated fat, and 16% of added sugar.
Sugar contains 42% of added sugar which is the largest figure, and relatively low in sodium with 14%, and 21% of saturated fat. 29% of sodium is consumed during lunch, 26% of saturated fat, and 19% of added sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified the main features of the charts, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You have successfully highlighted the highest and lowest values, but the comparison between categories could be more detailed. For instance, you mention dinner is high in sodium and saturated fat, but you do not fully contrast this with the other meals in a way that highlights the overall trends effectively. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview and reach the required length by expanding on the comparisons between the four meal types.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'Overall, it is clear that' are standard, but the transition between the description of dinner and the subsequent paragraphs feels abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'Sugar contains 42% of added sugar', where it is confusing whether you are referring to a meal category or the nutrient itself. Improving the flow between sentences using a wider variety of linking words would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely heavily on repetitive phrasing, such as 'largest figure' and 'relatively low'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'sugar is dominated in added sugar', which is grammatically and semantically imprecise. To reach a higher band, try to use more sophisticated synonyms for 'high' or 'low' and ensure that your terminology for the nutrients and meal categories is used accurately and consistently throughout the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'if eaten excessive amount' should be 'if eaten in excessive amounts', and 'balanced proportions' should be 'balanced proportions of'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'Dinner contains average 43%'. While the meaning is generally understandable, these recurring errors suggest a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be a beneficial next step.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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