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 illustrates the proportion of three types of nutrients in the meals consumed in the USA. Overall, it is clearly visible that people in USA consumed added sugar mostly in snack. While, mostly sodium is consumed by people of USA in dinner.

To biggin with in USA people are consuming added sugar 4 times daily in which 42% in snacks which is 2nd highest nutrient among all three. while, sodium intake is 43% in dinner which is highest consumed nutrient by USA's people.

On the other hand, only 14% sodium is consumed by USA people in snacks which is lowest nutrient consumed by USA people. for breakfast USA people consumed sodium 14%, saturated fat 16% and added sugar is as same as saturated fat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

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 some key features, such as the high percentage of sodium in dinner and added sugar in snacks, the analysis is incomplete. You have not provided a comprehensive overview or compared all three nutrients effectively across all meal types. The under-length nature of the essay means that the information is presented in a fragmented way, failing to provide a clear summary of the data provided in the charts. To improve, ensure you cover all categories and provide a more detailed comparison of the data points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by the brevity of the text and some awkward phrasing. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Overall' and 'On the other hand', the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the comparison between nutrients becomes difficult to follow. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'consumed', 'highest', and 'lowest'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'To biggin with' (a spelling error) and 'added sugar is as same as saturated fat'. The range of vocabulary is not sufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', 'predominant', or 'marginal', and ensure you check your spelling carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The pie charts illustrates') and incorrect article usage ('in USA', 'in snacks'). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, which occasionally impedes the clarity of your points. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Additionally, try to incorporate more complex structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, to describe the data more accurately.

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

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