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 pie chart compares the percentages of three types of nutrients which may be not safe for human body.
The most noticeable feature, the sodium and saturated fat accounted for dinner roughly equal to each other. But, the sugar in the dinner is noticeably less than sodium and saturated fat.
The dinner makes up largest share in sodium of 43%. On the other hand, in saturated fat it go down slightly with 37%. While there is a dramatically sink in added sugar and it stands on 23%. A negligible amount of snack in sodium is 14%. Which gradually rise of 7% in saturated fat. The contribute of snack in sugar is the biggest portion which double from the sodium and saturated fat.
The contribute of lunch is the second biggest portion of sodium with 29%. Moderately, constitutes of lunch is minor decrease of 3% in saturated fat as compared to sodium. Rapidly, the lunch portion is drop significantly. It hold 19% share of lunch in sugar. The smallest share of sodium,saturated fat and added sugar is breakfast. Which hold 14% share in sodium and slightly rise to 16% in saturated fat. Breakfast remain as same as in sugar and came in last.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the task partially by reporting some main features and making basic comparisons regarding the average percentages of sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars in typical meals in the USA. However, the selection of data is somewhat haphazard and lacks full development. While the writer mentions the highest and lowest percentages, such as dinner accounting for the largest share of sodium at 43% and breakfast holding the smallest shares, some descriptions are vague or inaccurate in relation to the chart data. For instance, the statement that sugar in dinner is noticeably less than sodium and saturated fat is covered, but other comparisons lack clarity. To move to a higher band, the response needs to present a more thorough, well-selected overview and extend the comparisons of all three nutrients across all meal categories with greater precision.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response shows some organisation with an introduction and body paragraphs attempting to group the data, but there is no clear overall progression. The movement between ideas feels disjointed, and the relationships between sentences are often unclear. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as the repetitive use of abrupt transitional words and phrases like 'Moderately,' 'Rapidly,' and 'While there is a dramatically sink'. Furthermore, paragraphing is poorly handled, with related information split across fragmented sentences rather than cohesive analytical blocks. Referencing is also problematic, making it difficult for the reader to follow which meal or nutrient is being discussed. To improve, the writer should focus on logical sequencing, ensuring that each paragraph flows naturally into the next with appropriate and accurate cohesive ties.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task, with noticeable errors that frequently cause difficulty for the reader. There are many awkward word choices and collocation issues, such as 'not safe for human body', 'dramatically sink', 'negligible amount of snack in sodium', and 'The contribute of snack'. Word forms are also misused throughout the text, as seen with 'constituents of lunch is minor decrease' instead of a noun form or verb agreement. Spelling is generally acceptable, but the overall lexical range restricts the precision needed to describe statistical data effectively. To achieve a higher score, the student should incorporate a wider variety of precise data-reporting vocabulary and ensure correct word forms and collocations are used.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple or awkwardly constructed sentences. Attempts at complex or comparative structures are frequently faulty, leading to ungrammatical phrasing such as 'the sodium and saturated fat accounted for dinner roughly equal to each other' and 'Breakfast remain as same as in sugar and came in last.' There are frequent errors in verb forms, tenses, prepositions, and article usage, such as 'It hold 19% share of lunch in sugar' and 'Which gradually rise of 7% in saturated fat.' These errors frequently cause strain and difficulty for the reader. To improve, the writer must work on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and accurate control over grammatical patterns when reporting figures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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