Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-07

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 assigned pie chart illustrates the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients

sodium, saturated fats, added sugar.

Overall, dinner experienced large in starting and breakfast remained stable in three types of nutrients.

Dinner considered large amount of sodium and saturated fat around 43% and 33% respectively. Whereas, lunch contained sodium overall 29% and saturated fat at 25%. Similarly, breakup carried 14% sodium and 11% saturated fat. Futhermore, snaps kept 34% sodium and 31% of saturated fat.

In added sugar , snacks significantly increase about 42% ,while dinner decreased in added sugar near about 23%. Likewise, breakfast declined in 16% and lunch contained 19% 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 development of the task. While you have identified the three nutrients and the four meal categories, the analysis is superficial. You have listed data points without providing a clear, cohesive summary of the main trends or meaningful comparisons. For instance, you mention dinner and snacks but do not synthesize the information to highlight the most significant findings, such as which meal contributes the highest overall nutrient intake. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview and extend your analysis by grouping data logically rather than simply listing percentages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a logical structure. While there is an attempt at an 'Overall' statement, it is unclear and grammatically confusing. The paragraphing is disjointed, and the transition between the discussion of sodium/saturated fats and added sugar is abrupt. Cohesive devices are either missing or misused, such as 'Similarly, breakup carried', which is confusing and does not effectively link the ideas. The progression of information is mechanical, and the lack of clear referencing makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the different meal types.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic verbs like 'experienced', 'contained', and 'kept', which are often used incorrectly in this context (e.g., 'snaps kept 34% sodium'). There are also errors in terminology, such as 'breakup' instead of 'breakfast' or 'snacks', and 'snaps' instead of 'snacks'. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', 'predominate', or 'fluctuate', and ensure that your word choices are precise and appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include 'dinner experienced large in starting', 'dinner considered large amount of sodium', and 'breakfast declined in 16%'. The sentence structures are simple and often lack the necessary articles or prepositions to be grammatically correct. There is a lack of variety in sentence construction, and the errors in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are persistent throughout the text. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors would help improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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