Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-16

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 average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the U.S.A . The amount of sodium consumed in breakfast is 14% whereas the saturated fat consumed in breakfast is 16% whereas consumption of added sugar in breakfast is 14%.

The second category is lunch, the amount of sodium[Na] consumed in lunch is 29% whereas the amount of saturated fats in lunch is 26% the consumption of added sugar in the lunch is 19%.

The third category is snacks The amount of sodium [Na] consumed in snacks is 14% whereas the consumption of saturated fats in snacks is 21% whereas the amount of added sugar consumed in snacks is equals to 42%

The fourth and last category is dinner, the amount of sodium[Na] consumed in dinner is 43% whereas the amount of saturated fat consumed during the dinner is 37% whereas the amount of added sugar consumed during dinner is 23%

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response identifies the main features of the charts, but it fails to provide a clear overview or summary of the data trends. Instead of synthesizing the information, the report is a mechanical list of figures for each meal category. There is no attempt to compare the nutrients across meals or highlight the most significant findings, such as dinner having the highest sodium and saturated fat levels, or snacks being the primary source of added sugar. To reach a higher band, you must group information logically and provide an analytical overview rather than just listing data points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into paragraphs based on meal types, which provides a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is repetitive and mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited to the repetitive use of 'whereas' and 'the amount of', which makes the text feel monotonous. There is a lack of variety in linking words, and the transition between sentences is weak. To improve, you should use a wider range of cohesive devices and ensure that your sentences flow naturally rather than following a rigid, repetitive formula.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on the phrase 'the amount of... consumed in... is...'. There is no attempt to use synonyms or more sophisticated vocabulary to describe the data (e.g., 'account for', 'constitute', 'peak at', 'the highest proportion'). The inclusion of '[Na]' is unnecessary and informal for an academic report. To improve, focus on using a broader range of verbs and nouns to describe statistical data and avoid repeating the same sentence structures throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammatical range is very limited, consisting almost entirely of simple sentences with a repetitive structure. While there are few major errors that impede communication, the lack of complex sentence structures (such as relative clauses or participle phrases) prevents the writing from demonstrating higher-level control. Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and spacing. To improve, aim to combine your sentences using subordinating conjunctions and varied sentence starters to create a more sophisticated and fluid writing style.

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

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