Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-28
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 the average percentage of 3 unhealthy meal which are sodium, saturated fats, added sugars which is typically consumed in the USA.
To begin with firstly "sodium", 14% sodium is included in the breakfast , 29% sodium is included in the lunch, for the snacks its 14%, and for the dinner the soidum included is 43% which is slightly higher than te rest of the meals.
Furthurmore "saturated fats", the breakfast contains 16% of saturated fats, lunch contains 26% of saturated fats, snacks contain higher percentage which 21%, and dinner contains 37%.
Lastly "added sugar" breakfast contains 16% of added sugar, lunch contains of 19% of added sugar, snack contains of the highest percentage of sugar which 42%, and for dinner its contains 23% added sugar.
Overall dinner contains high percentsge of sodium and saturated fats that has been conusmed but the highest percentage is the added sugar for the snacks.
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 cover all three nutrients and their breakdown across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. However, the data presentation lacks selection and integration. Instead of reporting main features and making relevant comparisons as required by Academic Task 1, the response mechanically lists almost every single data point. Furthermore, there are minor inaccuracies in reporting; for example, the text states for saturated fats that 'snacks contain higher percentage which 21%, and dinner contains 37%,' when dinner is actually the highest at 37% and snacks are 21%. An overview is attempted at the end, but overall the response falls into the Band 5 descriptor because it presents data mechanically without a clear, cohesive selection of main trends.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is organized into paragraphs, beginning with an introduction followed by body paragraphs dedicated to each nutrient, and concluding with a summary sentence. However, cohesion is mechanical and repetitive. The writer relies heavily on formulaic transitions such as 'To begin with firstly', 'Furthurmore', and 'Lastly', which makes the progression feel robotic rather than fluid. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within sentences is weak due to run-on structures and comma splices. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the concluding sentence where 'that has been conusmed' lacks a precise antecedent. The response demonstrates characteristics of Band 5.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, heavily mirroring the prompt and data labels ('sodium', 'saturated fats', 'added sugars', 'breakfast', 'lunch', 'dinner', 'snack'). The writer struggles with word formation and collocations, seen in phrases like '3 unhealthy meal which are sodium', 'soidum included', and 'high percentsge'. There are several spelling mistakes ('piechart', 'Furthurmore', 'conusmed'). While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the basic numbers, it lacks flexibility and precision, restricting the score to a Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences are simple or poorly constructed compound sentences joined improperly with commas. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing prepositions and incorrect verb forms ('dinner its contains 23% added sugar', 'snacks contain higher percentage which 21%', 'the soidum included is 43% which is slightly higher than te rest'). Complex structures are rarely attempted, and where multi-clause sentences are used, they contain frequent errors that occasionally strain the reader's comprehension. This fits the Band 5 descriptor.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.