Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-06
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 4.5)
Average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA says that percentage of sodium in snacks is 14% in breakfast it should be 14% in lunch 29% and in dinner 43% if it is increased by these limits it is its wil be harmfull for health.
Amounts of saturated fats in snacks is 21% and in breakfast it should be 16% and in lunch it will be max to max 26% and in dinner it will be max 37% if it is increaded by these limits it will be harmfull for health.
the ammount of added sugar in breakfast is 16% and in lunch ammount of added sugaris 19% if we talk about dinner 23% and in snacks it is 42% if these limits are increased it is hafmfull for health.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum length requirement, containing only 122 words compared to the required 150 words, with 16 words copied directly from the prompt. While the student attempts to report some data from the charts, the information is presented minimally and tangentially. The text lacks an overview and fails to adequately summarise the main features or make meaningful comparisons between the three nutrients. Furthermore, the repetitive commentary about health consequences ("if it is increased by these limits it is its wil be harmfull for health") demonstrates a misunderstanding of the academic task, as personal opinions and warnings are not required in Task 1 reports. To improve, the writer must ensure the word count exceeds the minimum, omit extraneous commentary, and systematically cover all charts with a clear overview.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
Information and ideas are not arranged coherently. The text is written as a single block of repetitive sentences lacking proper paragraphing and a clear logical progression. Cohesive devices are virtually absent, resulting in a series of disconnected statements rather than a structured report. For example, jumping abruptly between sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars without transitional phrases creates a disjointed reading experience. To achieve a higher score, the student needs to organise the response into logical paragraphs—such as an introduction, an overview, and distinct body paragraphs grouping the data—and use appropriate cohesive devices to connect ideas smoothly.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is basic, repetitive, and heavily reliant on direct lifting or simple repetition of terms from the prompt, such as "sodium", "saturated fats", and "added sugars". There are frequent spelling and word-choice errors that strain the reader, including misspellings like "harmfull" and "ammount", alongside awkward phrasing such as "max to max". The range of vocabulary is limited and inadequate for an academic response. To improve, the student should expand their lexical repertoire to include synonyms and varied reporting verbs (e.g., "account for", "constitute", "peak at"), while paying closer attention to standard spelling and precise word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The grammatical range is very limited, consisting primarily of repetitive, run-on sentences joined by weak conjunctions or punctuation errors. There is a complete lack of complex sentence structures, and frequent errors in grammar distort meaning and cause difficulty for the reader. Issues include missing punctuation, incorrect modal usage ("it should be 14%" where data is being stated rather than prescribed), and persistent run-on constructions without proper clause separation. To move forward, the writer must practice constructing varied sentence types, improve punctuation control, and ensure accurate subject-verb agreement and tense consistency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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