Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-13

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)

The pei charts illustrate information on the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be damaging if eaten too much.

Overall, there three kind of nutrients which is given (the sodium,saturated fat and added suger) and we discribe that how much are the limit for it.

Now, we start with their limitations in breakfast and lunch. The 14% of sodium is enough for breakfast and 29% for lunch and the limit of saturated fat is 16% in breakfast and 26% in lunch. finally, about added sugar it is also 16% in breakfast and 19% in lunch.

In dinner and snacks we need all these in large quantity so, at dinner 43% of sodium consuming is not harmful and at dinner it is 14% maximum. About saturated fat we need 37% in dinner and 21% in snacks.At t, added sugar is 23% in dinner and 42% in snacks is not dangerous.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You report several figures accurately, including sodium at 14% for breakfast and 43% for dinner, and added sugar at 42% for snacks. However, the overview does not identify the chart’s main pattern: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks have the highest share of added sugar. More importantly, you describe the percentages as “limits” and say some amounts are “not harmful” or “not dangerous”; the charts show meal shares, not safe limits or health effects. The response is also 141 words, below the required 150, with 16 prompt words excluded from the count. Add a clear, accurate overview and develop comparisons without making unsupported claims.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an attempted overview, and two paragraphs grouping breakfast/lunch and dinner/snacks. This gives the reader some organisation, and the meal groupings are relevant. However, progression is limited because the overview does not summarise the main contrasts, and the body mostly lists figures rather than comparing them. Linking is sometimes awkward or mechanical, as in “Now, we start with” and “In dinner and snacks,” while “finally” and “About” do not always create clear relationships between points. The final paragraph also contains a confusing fragment, “At t,” and an unclear statement about dinner and snacks. Use a concise overview and organise comparisons around the nutrient patterns.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “average percentages,” “sodium,” “saturated fat,” “breakfast,” and “snacks,” so the basic subject is identifiable. However, the range is limited and several word choices distort the chart’s meaning: “limitations” and “limit” suggest maximum safe amounts, while “not harmful” and “not dangerous” introduce unsupported health judgements. There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “pei,” “suger,” and “discribe,” and awkward expressions such as “in large quantity.” These errors make parts of the response difficult to interpret. Aim for precise reporting language such as “accounts for,” “share,” and “proportion,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response relies mainly on simple sentence patterns, with limited control of more developed structures. Errors occur frequently and sometimes obscure meaning. For example, “there three kind of nutrients which is given” has a missing verb and problems with number agreement, while “we discribe that how much are the limit for it” has an incorrect clause structure. In “The 14% of sodium is enough for breakfast,” the article and sentence construction are not appropriate for describing chart data. Punctuation and spacing are also inconsistent, particularly in “snacks.At t.” Practise accurate comparative sentences, such as “Dinner accounts for 43% of sodium, compared with 14% at breakfast,” and check agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries.

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

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