Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-09

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 show the average percentages in typical means of three different nutrients , that all are unhealthy if eaten too much . The three nutrients are sodium , saturated fat and added sugar.

In the USA the typical meals of the day consumed by the people . first sodium meals contains 14% in breakfast and the lunch contains 29% , snack contain same as breakfast and the dinner contains 43% highest in all day .

Next the saturated fat is also present in meals . In breakfast it contains about 16% form total , the lunch contain 26%, the snack also contains 21% and in the dinner meals it contains 37% of saturated fat.

And the last the added sugar are have high share in snack it conyains 42% , and the lunch had lowest then all day . It contains 19% and the breakfast contains 16% and the dinner contains 23% total.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify all three nutrients and report many of the chart figures accurately, including sodium at 43% for dinner and added sugar at 42% for snacks. However, the response mainly lists figures rather than summarising the most important patterns. It needs a clear overview, such as noting that dinner is the largest source of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contribute the most added sugar. There is also a factual error: you call lunch the lowest meal for added sugar, although breakfast is lower at 16% compared with lunch at 19%. The comparison of snack and breakfast sodium is accurate, but the report would be more complete if key contrasts were selected and explained clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: it introduces the three nutrients and then discusses sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in turn. Paragraph breaks also help separate the information. Linking expressions such as “Next” and “And the last” signal movement between categories, so the reader can generally follow the report. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, and the meal figures within each section are not always presented in a consistent order, making comparisons harder to track. The opening sentence is also separated from the main report without a distinct overview. Grouping the main trends first, then supporting them with selected figures, would create a clearer line of development and stronger cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “average percentages,” “sodium,” “saturated fat,” “added sugar,” and “highest,” which makes the topic clear. However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “typical means” for meals and “high share in snack.” The repeated use of “contains” also makes the description sound basic and repetitive. Spelling errors such as “conyains” and “form” reduce accuracy and can briefly distract the reader. Aim for precise reporting language, for example “accounts for,” “contributes,” and “proportion,” while checking spelling and choosing natural combinations such as “the proportion of added sugar in snacks.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The report attempts both simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can usually understand the intended comparisons. However, grammatical control is weak and errors occur frequently. For example, “The pie chart show” has subject–verb disagreement, while “In the USA the typical meals of the day consumed by the people” is an incomplete sentence. Other examples include “the lunch contain 26%” and “the added sugar are have high share,” which show problems with agreement and verb construction. Articles and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement in each clause; for instance, “Dinner contains 37% of saturated fat” is a clearer model.

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