Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-08

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 4.0)

The pie charts compare the average percentages of different kinds of nutrients in typical meals consumed in the USA that may be unhealthy if taken in large quantities.

"Overall, it is clear that the percentage for all three categories in dinner constituted the highest portion, whereas consumption of sodium, saturated and added sugar remained allmost stable in breakfast."

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The opening sentence identifies the chart topic and the overall statement attempts to highlight a main pattern. However, the overview is inaccurate: dinner is the largest share for sodium and saturated fat, but added sugar is highest in snacks (42%), not dinner. The claim that breakfast figures are “almost stable” is also imprecise; breakfast is 14% for sodium and 16% for both other nutrients. Most importantly, the response gives no detailed comparisons or figures to summarise the charts, so the task is addressed only minimally. It is also substantially below the required 150 words. To improve, report the key contrasts accurately and support the overview with selected values, including the high snack share of added sugar and dinner’s leading shares of the other nutrients.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic order: it first introduces what the charts show and then attempts an overall summary. The linking word “Overall” signals the purpose of the second sentence, so the reader can follow the limited progression. However, there is no developed paragraphing or sequence of details, and the response ends before presenting comparisons among meals or nutrients. The quotation marks around the overview are unnecessary and interrupt the presentation. Build a clear structure with an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph or two grouping related comparisons. Use references such as “this figure” only after stating the relevant meal and nutrient, so the relationships remain clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses relevant chart vocabulary, including “average percentages,” “nutrients,” “typical meals,” and “portion,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is narrow because the response contains only a brief introduction and overview, with no varied language for comparing proportions or describing highs and lows. Some choices are imprecise: “different kinds of nutrients” is broad, while “the percentage for all three categories in dinner” does not clearly identify the nutrient shares. The spelling “allmost” is incorrect. Use precise terms such as “share,” “proportion,” “accounted for,” and “was highest,” and name each nutrient and meal explicitly when making comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes a simple introductory sentence and a more complex overview clause beginning with “Overall,” showing an attempt to vary sentence structure. The main ideas can be understood, but control is uneven. In “the percentage for all three categories in dinner constituted the highest portion,” the singular “percentage” does not fit the plural categories, and the construction is awkward; a clearer form would be “Dinner accounted for the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat.” The second clause, “whereas consumption … remained,” also makes the comparison difficult to follow because it does not specify the figures being compared. The response is too short to demonstrate a wider range reliably. Practise accurate comparative clauses and ensure subjects clearly match their verbs.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.