Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-16

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 shows the percentage of the most common unhealthy nutrients that are present in the USA's daily meals.

Sodium, at 43%, and Saturated fat, at 37%, are the highest present in dinner, while added sugar is highest in snacks. In lunch, sodium and Saturated fat are still 2nd highest in 2 categories, with approximately the similalor with percentage of 29% and 26%, but the Added suger in 2nd highest in dinner at 23%.

Sodium is least present in snacks and breakfast, with 14% in each and Saturated fat get 3rd highest in snacks and least present in breakfast, at 16%; meanwhile, the Added sugar also gets approximately a similar percentage of 19% in lunch and 16% in breakfast.

This is the data presented in the pie chart the show the Average percentage of Sodium, Saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify several important patterns: dinner has the highest shares of sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), while snacks lead for added sugar (42%). You also include relevant comparisons across meals. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: sodium is not least in snacks alone but is equally low at breakfast and snacks (14% each), and the phrase about lunch being “2nd highest in 2 categories” does not clearly report the figures. The response also gives no clear, concise overview of the overall contrast between dinner and snacks. At 134 words, it is 16 words below the required minimum, which limits how fully you can summarise and compare the data. Develop the overview and check each comparison against the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from the main high values to lower figures, and the final sentence identifies the chart’s subject. However, the information is presented in three dense paragraphs without a clear overview paragraph followed by organised comparisons. Connections such as “while” and “meanwhile” are attempted, but the second sentence’s “2nd highest in 2 categories” makes the relationship between the meal categories difficult to follow. The closing sentence repeats the chart description rather than advancing the summary. Group the data by nutrient or by meal, use clear comparison sentences, and remove the repeated conclusion. This would give the reader a more coherent progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “highest,” “least present,” and “approximately,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and some word choices or forms are inaccurate, such as “the most common unhealthy nutrients,” “gets 3rd highest,” and “similar percentage.” Spelling errors in “similalor” and “suger” also reduce precision, while repeated use of “highest” and “present” makes the description less flexible. Choose standard data-reporting expressions and use them consistently—for example, “accounted for,” “share,” and “the lowest proportion.” More accurate collocations and careful spelling would make the comparisons clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine comparisons in longer sentences, for example, “Sodium, at 43%, and Saturated fat, at 37%, are the highest present in dinner, while added sugar is highest in snacks.” This shows some ability to use clauses, but several sentence patterns are faulty or awkward. In “Sodium is least present in snacks and breakfast,” the construction is unclear, and “Saturated fat get 3rd highest” has a subject–verb agreement error. The final sentence, “the pie chart the show,” also contains an incorrect clause structure. Most sentences rely on simple present-tense statements, with limited control of more varied structures. Practise accurate comparative clauses 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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