Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-05
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 charts show the average proportioons in typical meals of three types of nutrients, excessive consumption of these nutruents may be harmful for health.
It is clear that that the highest consumption occers at the dinner. Snacks and lunches are
followed by dinner whereas the breakfast shows the lowest proportions of these nutrients.
In the dinner these additives are taken in higher quantity where sodium is 43%, saturated fat is 37% and added added suger with 23% is least consumed. Lunch is followed by dinner, that includes 29% sodium, 26% saturated fat and 19% is added suger. Snacks are on the 3rd of this list but it behaviour is changed than others for added sugar, where it is consumed by 42% followed by saturated fat with 21% and sodium is taken less quantity with 14%. Breakfast shows a linear trend for all additives 16% for both added sugar and saturated fat and it slightly decreases the portion of sodium to 14%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of the three charts, noting overall trends and making relevant comparisons. For instance, the student correctly points out that dinner generally accounts for the highest consumption of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks peak in terms of added sugar. However, some parts of the task are more fully developed than others, and certain details are handled superficially or contain minor inaccuracies, such as misinterpreting the general ranking when stating that snacks are followed by dinner or misreading specific percentages (e.g., claiming added sugar is 42% for snacks when the data shows it clearly). Furthermore, a small number of words copied directly from the prompt were not counted towards the minimum word length. The selection of data is relevant, but the lack of complete accuracy and deeper extension places this performance comfortably at this level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The essay demonstrates an attempt to organise information logically, dividing the overview into an introduction and subsequent body details. However, the overall progression is difficult to follow at times due to confusing transitions and mechanical or faulty cohesion. For example, the sentence 'Snacks and lunches are followed by dinner whereas the breakfast shows the lowest proportions' creates confusion about the actual sequence and hierarchy of the data. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas lacks a clear, cohesive flow, and referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'it behaviour is changed than others'). Because cohesive devices are repetitive, inaccurate, or forced, the overall arrangement struggles to maintain a smooth, logical progression throughout the text.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate to accomplish the basic task requirements, featuring terms related to data presentation and nutrition such as 'consumption', 'proportions', 'additives', and 'trend'. The writer attempts to use less common vocabulary, but this results in noticeable errors in word choice, spelling, and word forms, such as 'proportioons', 'occers', 'suger', and referring to nutrients as 'additives'. While these minor lexical slips and spelling inaccuracies do not completely impede communication, they restrict the precision of the descriptions. To achieve a higher band score, the student needs to demonstrate a more accurate and flexible control of vocabulary, ensuring correct spellings and more natural collocations when discussing statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an attempt to use relative clauses and comparative structures. However, there are persistent errors in grammar and punctuation that surface throughout the text. Examples include run-on structures and comma splices, as well as errors in preposition use and subject-verb agreement, such as 'excessive consumption of these nutruents may be harmful', 'the highest consumption occers at the dinner', and 'that includes 29% sodium... and 19% is added suger'. While these errors rarely completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the grammar from reaching a higher level of control. The punctuation also lacks precision, particularly in separating clauses within longer descriptive sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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