Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-22
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 given pie charts provide the percentage of meals in theee categories of nutrients ( sodium, saturated fat , and Added sugar) this all foods effect on our health if we eaten to much
Overall, the dinner least popular in all categorios, while the breakfast is the smallest over the whole
Looking for an overall perspective, it is evident that, in the sodium the dinner highest percentage at 43%, which is 6 % higher then saturated fat Furthermore, in added sugar the dinner at 23%, In addition, the breakfast at 14 % in sodium, which is the lowest percentage in meals, After that the breakfast at 16 % in saturated fats and it remains similar in added sugar
In contrast, the lunch at 29% in sodium, while in saturated fats it was at 26 % which is 3% smallest than the sodium and in added sugar the lunch at 19%, Furthermore the snacks at 14% in sodium which is similar to breakfast however the snacks at 21% in saturated fats and the highest percentage of snacks in added sugar at 42 %
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to address the prompt by summarising the data from the pie charts regarding sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in US meals. However, the interpretation of the visual data is confused and inaccurate in places, such as stating that 'dinner least popular in all categorios' when dinner actually accounts for the highest percentages in sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%). Furthermore, the response contains several typos and misread figures, which limits its ability to fully convey the main features and comparisons. While an overview is attempted, it is factually incorrect based on the provided charts. This corresponds to a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is structured into paragraphs, but the overall progression of ideas is hindered by poor referencing and confusing transitions. The writer attempts to link sentences using phrases like 'Looking for an overall perspective' and 'In contrast', but the relationships between the data points are frequently muddled. Paragraphing is used, yet the internal flow lacks logical clarity. Cohesive devices are either repetitive or used inaccurately, making the text difficult to follow at times. This reflects the characteristics of a Band 5.0 for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on simple terms such as 'percentage', 'dinner', and 'sodium'. There are numerous spelling and word-choice errors throughout the text, including 'theee' instead of 'three', 'categorios' instead of 'categories', and awkward phrasing like 'if we eaten to much'. While some topic-specific vocabulary is present, the range is limited and noticeable errors occasionally impede communication or cause strain for the reader. These features align closely with a Band 5.0 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The student demonstrates a very limited range of sentence structures, relying primarily on simple or faulty compound-complex constructions. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('dinner highest percentage', 'the lunch at 29%'), tense inconsistencies, and missing auxiliary verbs. Punctuation is also weak, with run-on sentences joined improperly by commas. These persistent errors frequently cause difficulty for the reader and represent a typical Band 4.0 performance in grammatical range and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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