Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-13
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 information about average percentages in simple meals of three categories of food, which may be unhealthy in a significant number of use.
Overall, all three graphs look very similar, but the added sugar category is very different compared with others.
Dinner has the highest percentage of unhealthy food in two categories of nutrients, in the first type the percentage is about 43%, while in saturated fat it had declined to just about 37%, and by the end dinner has significantly decreased to over 23%. Lunch is much lower than dinner, but still placed in second place in two types of food, in the first category, it has just over 29%, in the second type it had decreased to over 26%, and in the last category lunch has sharply declined to about 19%.
Snack was the lowest meal in the sodium with just over 14%, but in the second category it had increased to over 21%, and by the end it had dramatically increased to about 42% and became the highest percentage compared with others. At the same time, breakfast had 14% in sodium, and had increased to 16% in saturated fat and did not have any changes in third category.
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 categories of nutrients across the four meal types, fulfilling the basic requirements of the task. However, the student struggles to clearly identify and name the charts, incorrectly referring to them as 'simple meals' and 'three categories of food' instead of sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars. While the main features are touched upon—such as dinner having high percentages and snacks peaking in added sugar—the overview is weak and vague, stating that 'all three graphs look very similar, but the added sugar category is very different'. Comparisons between meals are attempted, but data citations are sometimes confusingly grouped without explicitly naming the nutrient at the start of each clause, leading to a band 5.5 performance for task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is organized into four paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and followed by an overview and body details. However, logical progression is hindered by poor referencing and mechanical cohesive devices. Phrases like 'in the first type', 'the second type', and 'by the end' are used repeatedly without making it immediately clear which nutrient is being discussed, forcing the reader to guess based on sequence. Paragraphing is present, but the internal cohesion within the body paragraphs is faulty and repetitive, resulting in a band 5.0 for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on general words like 'category', 'food', 'type', and 'percentage'. There are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'average percentages in simple meals of three categories of food' and 'may be unhealthy in a significant number of use'. While the student attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'dramatically increased' and 'significantly decreased', the limited control over precise terms and collocation places this securely at a band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are several run-on sentences and comma splices, particularly in the third paragraph, where multiple clauses are joined with commas rather than conjunctions or full stops (e.g., 'Dinner has the highest percentage... in the first type the percentage is about 43%, while in saturated fat it had declined...'). Errors in verb tense and preposition usage also occur. Because these errors do not completely impede communication but are frequent enough to cause difficulty, a band 5.0 is awarded.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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