Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-19

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 charts illustrates the percentage of nutrients in three type of meal. At first i will describe about snacks that it contains 14% of sodium, 21% of saturated fat, 42% of added sugar. After that lets write down about breakfast that contains 14% of sodium as same as snacks, 16% of saturated fat and added sugar. At third lunch contains 29% of sodium slightly higher than snacks and breakfast, 26% of saturated fat and 19% of added sugar. At last, Dinner contains 43% of sodium that is much higher than other 3 meals, 37% of saturated fat and 23% of added sugar that is at 2nd largest number. Dinner containes largest amount of sodium and saturated fat. Snacks contains higher amount of added sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main features of the data, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the trends. The structure is overly simplistic, relying on a repetitive listing of data points rather than a comparative analysis. To improve, you must group the data logically (e.g., comparing the highest and lowest values across categories) and provide a clear introductory statement that synthesizes the information rather than just describing the charts individually.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks paragraphing, which is essential for organizing information in an IELTS Task 1 report. The flow is mechanical, using repetitive transition phrases like 'At first', 'After that', and 'At third'. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly; instead, the sentences feel like a list of isolated facts. To improve, you should organize your report into clear paragraphs (Introduction, Overview, and Body Paragraphs) and use a wider variety of linking words to show relationships between the data points, such as 'whereas', 'in contrast', or 'similarly'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is very basic and repetitive, relying heavily on the words provided in the prompt. There is little attempt to use a range of vocabulary to describe the data, such as synonyms for 'higher' or 'largest'. Phrases like 'at 2nd largest number' are awkward and unnatural. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary, including precise terms for describing trends and comparisons, such as 'proportion', 'constitutes', 'surpasses', or 'the most significant contributor'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'The charts illustrates', 'Dinner containes', 'Snacks contains') and article misuse (e.g., 'in three type of meal'). The sentence structures are very simple and repetitive, lacking the complex structures required for higher bands. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with informal phrasing like 'i' instead of 'I'. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and attempt to combine simple sentences into more complex ones using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions.

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

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