Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-24
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)
This report illustrates about three types of nutrients and shows the specific amount of that nutrient in typical meals and if consumed too much then the adverse effects on human health.
Overall, the nutrients such as sodium, saturated fats and added sugars have positive effects and healthy for human health, but this report point towards excessive intake of these nutrients and categorized them into 4 parts of meal time and their relevant intake percentages shown respectively on graph.
If we talk about Sodium, we have a consumption of it in 4 meal times. As per data, Sodium is consumed at a maximum amount at dinner time which is 43% whereas, breakfast and snack has equal amount of percentages of sodium 14%. Saturated fat has also same categorization of meal times, where breakfast has an almost equal amount of fat percentage like in Sodium. Whereas, dinner again takes large amount of saturated fats.
Now, Added sugar also is in same amount at breakfast time like the other amount of nutrients.
If we deeply study this graph we can conclude that the meal being taken at dinner time is unhealthy. While the meal at breakfast time is close to healthier.
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 attempts to summarise the data but fails to provide a clear, accurate overview of the main trends. While it mentions the three nutrients, the description of the data is imprecise and lacks specific figures for most categories. For instance, stating that 'dinner again takes large amount' is vague, and the claim that 'breakfast and snack has equal amount' is not fully supported by a clear comparison of the data points. The report lacks a professional tone and fails to highlight the most significant differences between the nutrients across the four meal times, resulting in an under-developed response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The use of cohesive devices is repetitive and sometimes mechanical, such as the frequent use of 'whereas' and 'also'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when comparing the nutrients. The introduction is somewhat confusing, as it discusses the health effects of nutrients rather than focusing on the data provided in the charts. The progression of ideas between paragraphs is disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of the three nutrients effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'if we talk about' and 'if we deeply study this graph' are informal and unsuitable for an Academic Task 1 report. There are inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'illustrates about' (which is grammatically incorrect) and 'categorized them into 4 parts of meal time'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the data with precision, relying on basic descriptors like 'large amount' or 'equal amount' rather than more sophisticated analytical language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'breakfast and snack has equal amount') and awkward sentence structures (e.g., 'Added sugar also is in same amount at breakfast time like the other amount of nutrients'). Punctuation is inconsistent, and the use of complex structures is limited and often faulty. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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