Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-14
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 compare the average proportion of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in four types of meals consumed in the USA and often cause health problems if taken in excessive amount.
Overall, it can be seen that saturated fat and sodium had the highest percentages in dinner and lunch came to the second. It is also noticeable that snacks recorded for largest portion in snack.
Sodium accounted for 43% in dinner, while saturated fat had 37%, making it highest category. By comparison, sodium recorded 14% for snack and breakfast, saturated fat had 23% for snack and 16% for breakfast. Sodium stood a
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 104 words long. This significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have attempted to identify some main features, the report is incomplete; it cuts off mid-sentence and fails to cover the data for added sugars entirely. To improve, you must ensure all categories are addressed and provide a more comprehensive comparison of the data points. The lack of completion prevents a higher score, as the task is only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph, which provides a basic structure. However, the abrupt ending severely disrupts the logical flow. Cohesive devices are used in a somewhat mechanical way, such as 'Overall' and 'By comparison'. Because the text is incomplete, the progression of ideas is hindered. To improve, ensure that you complete your analysis and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your comparisons more fluidly between the different meal types.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You use terms like 'proportion', 'percentages', and 'recorded', which are appropriate for describing charts, but there is little evidence of less common or more sophisticated vocabulary. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'recorded for largest portion in snack'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and varied reporting verbs to describe the data trends more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'lunch came to the second' (should be 'was the second highest') and 'recorded for largest portion'. Additionally, the sentence 'Sodium stood a' is incomplete, which is a significant error. While the meaning is generally clear in the completed sections, the frequency of errors and the unfinished nature of the text limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring all sentences are complete.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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