Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-02

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 chart illustrates about the comsumers of Sodium, Saturated fat and added sugar in the USA.

Overall, the chart shows the quantity of Sodium, Saturated fat and additional sugar in four meals, breafast, lunch, snacks and dinner. The key factor of the chart is breakfast, which have almost same amount of nutrients.

To begin with, the population of the USA consume 43% Sodium in dinner, saturated fat accounted with 37%, while extra sugar has lowest ratio, which is 23%. In lunch 29% Sodium is consumed by the USA residents, saturated fat however is 26%. Added sugar is accounted only 19%. The ratio of extra sugar is 42% in snacks, which is largest ratio as compares with other nutrients, while saturated fat is 21% and 14% ratio of Sodium nacks have. Moreover, breakfast have almost same amount of all nutrients accounted with 16%, except sodium which is 14%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response only partially addresses the task and fails to meet the minimum word requirement of 150 words, falling one word short at 149 words. While the student attempts to report some of the data from the pie charts, the overview is confused and inaccurate, stating that breakfast has almost the same amount of nutrients when this is only true for some. Furthermore, the selection of features lacks clarity, and some data points are misreported or awkwardly expressed, such as claiming the population consumes 43% Sodium in dinner while missing a comprehensive comparison across all meals and nutrients. To reach a higher level, the writer must ensure the word count requirement is met, write a clearer and more accurate overview, and select and compare the main features of the data systematically rather than listing figures mechanically.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some basic organization with the use of introductory and body paragraphs, but the response lacks a clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are repetitive and sometimes mechanical, such as 'To begin with' and 'Moreover', while referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in phrases like 'The key factor of the chart is breakfast'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal logical flow between sentences needs strengthening to guide the reader smoothly through the comparisons. To improve in this criterion, the student should use a wider variety of cohesive links naturally, ensure clearer referencing between sentences, and build a more logical progression of ideas that links the overview directly to the detailed body paragraphs.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task, containing noticeable errors and awkward phrasings that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. Examples of weak word choice and spelling or form errors include 'comsumers' instead of consumption, 'breafast', 'additional sugar' instead of added sugar, and unnatural expressions like 'largest ratio as compares with other nutrients'. The student attempts some less common terms but lacks precision in collocation and style. To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to expand their lexical repertoire, use precise topic-related vocabulary correctly, eliminate spelling and word-formation errors, and demonstrate better control over word forms and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple statements with frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. There are noticeable issues with subject-verb agreement and prepositions, such as 'breakfast have almost same amount', 'saturated fat accounted with 37%', and '14% ratio of Sodium nacks have', which contains a typographical error and a broken structure. Attempts at complex sentences often result in faulty grammar. To progress, the student must incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence forms while maintaining accuracy, pay close attention to subject-verb agreement, and eliminate frequent grammatical errors that impede smooth reading.

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