Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-17
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 bar chart illustrate the average proportion in typical meals of three different types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if it is easten too much.
Overview, average proportion of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA.
In dinner sodium consumes too much. While, Snack are high consuming meal with added sugar.
In dinner, people are consuming sodium with high percentage around 43% where staurated fats are 37% and added sugar is 23%. In snacks, people are taking less sodium areound 14% and saturated fats around 21%. However, added sugar are very high in snacks with 42%.
In breakfast, people are consuming as well healthy food but sodium is around 14%. Moreover, saturated fats and added sugar having same proportion in breakfast around 16%. In contrast, Sodium is high in lunch around 29% and saturated fat is around 26%. Added sugar is very low in luch with 19%.
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 student attempts to address the visual data by reporting figures for dinner, snacks, breakfast, and lunch regarding sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars. However, there are significant flaws in task completion. The opening statement misidentifies the visual type as a bar chart rather than pie charts, and misquotes the prompt title. The overview paragraph is extremely fragmented, failing to provide a coherent summary of main trends. Furthermore, some data points are inaccurate or poorly communicated, such as stating that 'added sugar are very high in snacks with 42%' (which is correct) but struggling to clearly contrast the overall distribution. The response meets the 156-word minimum, but the lack of a fully developed overview and imprecise reporting place it at a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is divided into brief paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The overview consists of disjointed fragments ('Overview, average proportion...') rather than a cohesive summary. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively, such as the sudden transitions with 'While, Snack are high consuming meal' and 'In dinner, people are... Moreover... In contrast'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and paragraphing lacks structural unity, with single-sentence paragraphs disrupting the flow. These mechanical and faulty cohesive features align with a Band 5.0 descriptor.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, featuring phrases like 'average proportion', 'typical meals', and 'consuming sodium'. There are frequent lexical errors and awkward word formations, such as 'easten' (eaten), 'high consuming meal', and 'areound' (around). The student attempts less common vocabulary items like 'proportion' and 'saturated fats', but the lack of accurate word choice and collocation restricts the score. The errors occasionally cause strain for the reader, placing this performance at Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex structures are consistently flawed. There are numerous grammatical errors throughout the response, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The bar chart illustrate', 'Snack are'), awkward passive/active confusion ('if it is easten too much', 'sodium consumes too much'), and punctuation errors. These frequent errors cause difficulty and misunderstanding for the reader, which fits the Band 5.0 criteria.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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