Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)
The given three pie charts illustrates the average percentage in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
The first category is breakfast, in breakfast the ratio of sodium is 14% whereas the proportion of saturated fat in breakfast is 16% whereas the ratio of sodium is snacks is 14%whereas the ratio of saturated fat is 21% meanwhile the ratio of added sugar is 42%. The second category is dinner, the ratio of sodium in dinner is 43% whereas the proportion of saturated fat in dinner is 37% meanwhile the percentile of added sugar in dinner is 23%,
The third category is lunch, the ratio of sodium in lunch is 29% whereas the proportion of saturated fat is 26% meanwhile the ratio of added sugar is 19%. nextly, in the case of snacks, the ratio of sodium is 14% whereas the ratio of saturated fat is 21% whereas the proportion of added sugar in lunch is 19%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 3.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5
The response identifies several relevant figures, including dinner as the highest meal for sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), and correctly gives lunch values of 29% sodium and 26% saturated fat. However, it does not provide a clear overview of the main patterns, and the figures are presented in a confusing order with important omissions. Most notably, the snack sugar figure is incorrectly reported as 19%: it is 42%, while 19% belongs to lunch. The response is also two words below the 150-word minimum, with the 18 words copied from the prompt excluded. To improve, add a concise overview, compare the main highs and lows, and check every figure against the chart.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5
There is some attempt to group information by meal, and phrases such as “The third category is lunch” signal a change in focus. However, the sequence is difficult to follow: breakfast and snacks are combined in the first paragraph, dinner is discussed next, and lunch and snacks are then repeated. The repeated pattern “whereas … whereas … meanwhile” makes the writing mechanical, while the long first paragraph contains several figures without clear separation. Use a brief introduction and overview, then organise the details into logical comparisons—for example, meals with the highest sodium and fat, followed by the contrasting sugar pattern. Clearer paragraphing and fewer repeated linkers would make the progression easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The response uses a small range of task-related vocabulary, including “average percentage,” “proportion,” and “category,” so the reader can generally identify the subject being described. However, the same terms are repeated frequently, especially “ratio” and “whereas,” and some choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing chart data. “Percentile” is not the right term for a percentage, and “the ratio of sodium is snacks” is unclear. Aim for precise, varied language such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “contribution,” while using “percentage” consistently for the figures. More accurate collocations would improve clarity without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response attempts to combine information in longer sentences using “whereas” and “meanwhile,” but these structures are often poorly controlled. For example, “The given three pie charts illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, and “the ratio of sodium is snacks is 14%” has a faulty sentence pattern. Several clauses run together without appropriate punctuation, as in the opening description of breakfast and snacks, making relationships between figures hard to follow. There is some use of simple sentence openings such as “The third category is lunch,” but the range remains limited and accuracy is inconsistent. Use shorter, complete sentences, check agreement and articles, and punctuate comparisons clearly.
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.