Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-10
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)
These 3 charts below illstrute average percentages of sodium,saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed by americans
An average american family consume 14 % sodium as snacks ad 14% in breakfast and in dinner they consume the most sodium about 41% in lunch 29%
Saturated fat in breakfast people consume 21% as a snack 21% in lunch 26% and in dinner 17%
Added sugar americans consume most of added sugar food in as snack abount 42% in breakfast 16% lunch 19% in dinner 23%
Most of people in america eat sodium in large amount in dinner about 43% and the lowest about 14% sodium in breakfast saturated fat they consume the most in dinner about 37% and the lowest in breakfast 16% added sugar foods americans consume the most as a snack they consume the most and the lowest added food they eat in breakfast about 16%
and in middle which americans dont eat sodium saturated fats and added sugar would be breakfast.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers all three nutrients and provides data for each meal type. However, the reporting of data is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies compared to the provided charts (e.g., stating dinner sodium is 41% then 43%). The summary lacks a clear overview of the main trends, such as the high consumption of added sugars in snacks versus the high sodium content in dinner. The final paragraph is repetitive and fails to synthesize the information effectively, resulting in a list-like presentation rather than a coherent analytical summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks logical paragraphing and structure. The information is presented in fragmented sentences that make it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link the data points, and the transition between the different nutrients is abrupt. The final paragraph is particularly confusing, as it attempts to summarize the data but ends up repeating information and using unclear phrasing like 'in middle which americans dont eat'. The overall organization is mechanical and lacks flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic verbs like 'consume' and 'eat' throughout the text. There are also spelling errors such as 'illstrute' and 'ad' (for 'and'), and grammatical inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'added food' instead of 'added sugars'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate any flexibility or precision, which is required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles, incorrect prepositions, and run-on sentences. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is largely absent, which makes the text difficult to read. For example, 'An average american family consume 14 % sodium as snacks ad 14% in breakfast' lacks proper subject-verb agreement and punctuation. These errors are persistent and occasionally impede the clarity of the information being presented.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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