Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25
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 charts illustrate the average proportion in three type of meals of nutrients is sodium, saturated fat and added sugar, which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that added sugar is the highest proportion while, breakfast is least proportion. The snack and breakfast is around similar proportion.
Sodium, dinner is the highest proportion of this category in 43% whereas, lunch is 29% proportion of this category. Snack and breakfast is also similar in 14% and 14%.
Saturated fat, dinner is highest proportion in 37% and breakfast is least category followed is 16% in contrast, lunch and snack approximately similar in proportion of 26% and 21%.
Added sugar, in this category snack is the highest proportion is 42% compare with dinner is 23% proportion of in this category. Lunch and breakfast is the around similar proportion in this category is 19% and 16%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all three nutrients and provides data for each meal type. However, the overview is weak; it attempts to summarize but lacks clarity, stating 'added sugar is the highest proportion' without specifying the context, and the comparison between breakfast and snacks is imprecise. The report relies heavily on listing figures rather than synthesizing the information. To improve, you should group the data more effectively to highlight trends (e.g., noting that dinner is the primary source of sodium and saturated fats, while snacks dominate added sugar intake) rather than listing each category individually.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is mechanical. Each paragraph follows a repetitive structure ('Sodium, dinner is...', 'Saturated fat, dinner is...'). There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas smoothly. For example, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. The use of referencing is also limited, making the text feel like a list of data points rather than a cohesive report. Improving the use of linking words such as 'in contrast,' 'furthermore,' or 'consequently' would help the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You frequently use the word 'proportion' and 'category' to describe the data, which makes the writing monotonous. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'three type of meals' (should be 'three types of meals') and 'breakfast is least proportion' (should be 'breakfast accounts for the lowest proportion'). To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'constitutes,' 'accounts for,' 'predominates,' or 'a significant share.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammar contains frequent errors that occasionally hinder readability. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('nutrients is sodium'), missing articles ('in 43%'), and awkward sentence structures ('followed is 16%'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. There is a lack of complex sentence forms, which are necessary for a higher band. You should focus on using more varied sentence structures, such as relative clauses or participial phrases, and ensure that your basic grammar, particularly regarding prepositions and articles, is more accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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