Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21
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 chart below illustrates average percentage in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of them may be health hazard if contained overly.
Overall the quantity of Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar is shown in the chart to have in the different meals in USA.
For the breakfast sodium is consumed 14%, saturated fat and sugar 16% , For snack, sodium 14%, saturated fat 21% and sugar 42% . Lunch contains 29% amount of sodium, saturated fat 26% and added sugar 19% only.
Dinner is the most nutrients filled meal in the USA, as it must be having 43% sodium, 37% of saturated fat and 23% of added sugar.
To conclude, typical meals in USA consume a high amount of nutrients, especially snacks and dinners are more nutritional rather than breakfast and lunch.
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 task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the data, the analysis is quite basic and lacks a clear overview of the trends. You have listed the percentages for each meal, but you have not effectively compared the nutrients across the different categories. For instance, noting that dinner has the highest levels of all three nutrients is a good start, but the report lacks the depth required for a higher band. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive summary and include more analytical comparisons rather than just listing the data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and mechanical. Phrases like 'For the breakfast' and 'To conclude' are used, but the transitions between sentences feel abrupt. The logical progression is hindered by the lack of linking words that would help compare the data more fluidly. To improve, try using a wider range of cohesive devices such as 'in contrast to', 'whereas', or 'similarly' to connect your ideas and show the relationships between the different nutrient levels across the meals.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate to convey the basic meaning, but it is repetitive and lacks the precision expected for an academic task. Phrases like 'nutrients filled meal' are awkward and not standard collocations. You also use 'consume' incorrectly when referring to the nutrient content of the meals themselves. There is a lack of variety in your descriptive language. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'proportion', 'constitute', 'significant', or 'predominant', and ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'all of them may be health hazard' should be 'all of them may be health hazards', and 'if contained overly' is an incorrect usage. The sentence structure is relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. You have issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'in the USA' vs 'in USA'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and try to incorporate more complex sentence structures to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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