Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-21
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 piechart illustrates average proportion in categorized food of three various types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if taken too much.
we can see that average percentage of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in USA.
Firstly we see sodium and saturated fat intake in snack is at minor level with percentile of 14% and 21% when compared with added sugars follows major level with proportion of 42%. Furthermore, sodium, saturated fat and added sugar during breakfast is probably had minor intakes with percentage of categorised with 14%, both saturated fat and added sugar with16%. Secondly sodium intake during lunch is majorly consumed with percentile of 29%, saturated fats are taken moderately with 26%, and added suga is accordingly consumed at 19%. Overall sodium consumption at dinner has a high probability of consumption approximately 43% , next saturated fats have moderate intake of 37% and added sugar cosumed in required limits with 23%.
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 the main features of the charts, identifying key proportions for sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. However, the data reporting is somewhat clunky and lacks a clear overview statement, which prevents it from reaching a higher band. While the student attempts to make comparisons, expressions like 'minor level' and 'major level' are imprecise. Furthermore, there is a slight misreading of the data structure, treating the charts as categorised food rather than meal times for specific nutrients. Nevertheless, all four meals and three nutrients are mentioned with mostly accurate data values, such as identifying the 43% dinner sodium peak and the 42% snack sugar peak, satisfying the core requirements of Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The organisation of the text is somewhat compromised by poor paragraphing and mechanical transitions. The response starts with isolated sentences and a very short second paragraph, followed by a dense block of text in the final paragraph containing multiple ideas without adequate breathing room. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively, such as 'Firstly we see', 'Furthermore', and 'Secondly', which creates a disjointed reading experience. Although there is a logical progression moving from snacks and breakfast to lunch and dinner, the lack of a proper introduction and clear paragraph separation limits the coherence of the essay, pulling it down to a Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for conveying basic statistical information, but it contains frequent inaccuracies and awkward collocations. Examples include 'categorized food', 'percentile of 14%', 'minor intakes', and 'suga'. The student attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'proportion', 'consumed', and 'moderately', but the word choices often sound unnatural or imprecise in context, such as 'added sugar cosumed in required limits'. While meaning is generally communicated, the persistent lexical limitations and spelling slips cap this criterion at a Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
Grammatically, the response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control is weak. There are several noticeable grammatical errors, missing articles, and punctuation issues throughout the text. For instance, the opening sentence lacks an article ('The piechart illustrates average proportion'), and sentences like 'sodium, saturated fat and added sugar during breakfast is probably had minor intakes' contain severe structural and tense confusion. Prepositional and agreement errors also occur, such as 'with percentile of'. Because errors are frequent and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, the writing sits firmly at Band 5.0 for grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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