Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-10
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 gives the information about the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients and it may unhealthy for health if it eaten exessively.
The highest quantity of sodium and saturated fat are added in dinner and the added sugar in snack.
The chart illustrates that the dinner contain highest quantity of sodium 43 percent, sodium are added 29 percent in lunch and 14 percent which is lowest are added in snack and breakfast. Saturated fat also have the highest percentage in dinner, saturated fat added to lunch of 26 percent, snack contain 21percent of saturated fat and on the the lowest 16 percent in saturated fat. The highest percentage of added sugar is present in snack with 42 percent. Dinner has the 23 percent of added sugar, lunch is on second last number with 19 percent and on the end the breakfast is on the lowest number with 16 percent of added sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the main pattern correctly: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. You also include several accurate figures, such as 43% sodium at dinner and 42% added sugar in snacks. However, the report is only 147 words, below the 150-word minimum, and the overview is very brief. Some comparisons are incomplete: for example, breakfast and snacks both account for 14% of sodium, but this equality is not highlighted, and the figures are mostly listed rather than compared across nutrients. Develop a fuller overview and explain the key contrasts between meal types to address the task more completely.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, a short overview, and then details about each nutrient. This gives the reader a general route through the information. However, progression within the detail paragraph is difficult to follow because several figures are joined in long, repetitive sentences, and links between comparisons are limited. Phrases such as “on second last number” and “on the end” do not clearly signal the ranking, while repeated use of “the highest” and “lowest” makes the account feel list-like. Separate the data into clearer groups—for example, sodium and saturated fat together, then added sugar—and use precise linking phrases to show contrasts.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “highest,” “lowest,” and the names of all three nutrients, so the reader can understand the subject. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “quantity … are added,” “on second last number,” and “on the end.” There are also spelling errors, including “exessively,” and spacing inconsistency in “21percent.” These issues make the description less precise, even though the main data remain understandable. Aim for standard reporting collocations such as “accounted for,” “made up,” and “the smallest share,” and check spelling and spacing carefully.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the main message is usually recoverable. However, grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. Examples include “it may unhealthy” and “if it eaten,” which omit necessary verb forms, as well as “the dinner contain,” where the subject and verb do not agree. In “sodium are added 29 percent,” the sentence structure does not clearly express the comparison. Articles and sentence construction are also inconsistent. Practise building accurate chart sentences with a clear subject and verb, such as “Dinner accounts for 43% of sodium,” before combining ideas into longer sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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