Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-01
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 illustrates the average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in favorite delicacies consumed in USA , a large proportion might be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Overall, dinner and snack accounted for the highest number of sodium and added sugar, making it the largest amongst the meals. Whereas breakfast saw the lowest percentage of nutrient across the charts.
Sodium and saturated fat contain approximately 37 to 40 percentages, making it the highest nutrient containing meals
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum length requirement of 150 words, stopping at only 80 words. Consequently, the task is addressed only minimally. While the writer attempts to present an overview and mention a few data points from the charts, the information is incomplete and underdeveloped. For instance, the text claims that 'dinner and snack accounted for the highest number of sodium and added sugar,' which misinterprets the specific distribution of nutrients across the meals shown in the visual data. The response also trails off abruptly mid-sentence, preventing any fully developed comparison or comprehensive reporting of the main features.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is some basic organization with an introductory sentence, an overview paragraph, and a concluding attempt, but there is no clear overall progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate, such as using 'Whereas' inappropriately to link the second paragraph's contrast. Referencing is also faulty, as seen in the phrase 'making it the largest amongst the meals,' where the pronoun lacks a clear antecedent. Paragraphing is attempted, but the incomplete nature of the final paragraph disrupts the logical flow of the text.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary range is limited and minimally adequate for the task, containing noticeable errors that cause some difficulty for the reader. There are significant word choice and collocation issues, such as referring to the meals as 'favorite delicacies' and describing percentages as containing '37 to 40 percentages.' Furthermore, the spelling and lexical control are weak, and the response relies on basic terminology repeatedly without successfully demonstrating the ability to use less common lexical items accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response features a very limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent errors. There are issues with subject-verb agreement and singular/plural forms, such as 'The pie charts illustrates' and 'average percentages... is' or similar phrasing. Attempts at more complex structures lead to broken syntax, as seen in the incomplete and dangling final sentence: 'Sodium and saturated fat contain approximately 37 to 40 percentages, making it the highest nutrient containing meals.' These frequent errors cause noticeable difficulty and strain for the reader.
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