Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-18

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 4.5)

THE CHARTS BELOW SHOW THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGES IN TYPICAL MEALS OF THREE TYPES OF NUTRIENTS LIKE SODIUM ,SATURATED FAT ,ADDED SUGAR THE BOTH ARE ALL OF WHICH MAY BE UNHEALTHY IF EATEN TOO MUCH

OVERALL,THE BOTH INGREDIENTS HAVE TO MUCH SODIUM . SATURATED FAT . ADDED SUGAR IN OUR DAILY BASSIS FOOD LIKE SNACKS ,BREAKFAST AND DINNER .IN THIS CHART I THINK SO THE DINNER HAVE MOST INCLUDE ALL THINGS AND SNACKS HAS TO MUCH SUGAR IT IS DANGEROUS AND CAUSES OF DIARREAH

SNACK HAS 14 PERCENT SODIUM , 21 PERCENT SATURATED FAT ,MOST INCLUDED ADDED SUGER I THINK SO SUGAR IS VERY HIGH IN SNACKS .IN BREAK FAST SODIUM IS 14 PERCENT , 16 PERC ENT SATURATED FAT AND ALSO SAME IN ADDED SUGAR I THINK SO BREAK FAST IS MUCH BETTER THAN SNACKS

THE LUNCH HAS 29 PERCENT SODIUM ,26 PERCENT IN SATURATED FAT ,19 PERCENT ADDED SUGAR . DINNER HAS 43 PERCENT SODIUM,37 PERCENT SATURATED FAT AND 23 ADDED SUGAR I THINK SO PEOPLE EAT TO MUCH FOOD IN DINNER THAT HAVE ALL MAXIMUM INGREDIENTS

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response addresses the task by identifying the three nutrients and the four meal types. However, the analysis is heavily compromised by the inclusion of irrelevant personal opinions (e.g., 'I think so', 'it is dangerous and causes of diarrea'). IELTS Academic Task 1 requires an objective, analytical report of the data provided, not personal commentary or medical speculation. While the main features are identified, the lack of a formal tone and the inclusion of non-data-related information prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus strictly on comparing the figures provided in the charts without adding external opinions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is divided into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical flow is weak. The use of cohesive devices is minimal and often repetitive (e.g., 'I think so' is used as a filler). The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. The lack of formal linking words (such as 'in contrast', 'furthermore', or 'consequently') makes the progression of ideas feel mechanical and disjointed. Improving the use of transition signals would significantly enhance the readability and logical structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.5

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are frequent spelling errors (e.g., 'bassis', 'suger', 'diarreah', 'break fast') and issues with word choice (e.g., 'most included' instead of 'highest proportion'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe trends or comparisons effectively. The student relies on basic descriptors and struggles to use precise terminology related to data analysis. To improve, the student should learn academic collocations for describing charts, such as 'account for', 'a significant proportion', and 'the highest level of'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the dinner have', 'snack has'), article usage, and punctuation. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. The use of capitalization throughout the entire text is also inappropriate for formal writing. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, correct verb forms, and the proper use of punctuation, while also attempting to incorporate more complex structures like relative clauses or passive voice.

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

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