Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-21

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 above pie chart shows us three types of nutrients that is to be consumed in various meals and if consumed in larger amount might considered as unhealthy.

The first meal is breakfast, which shows that the sodium is consumed less than the saturated fat and added sugar,and their difference is of 2%. The second meal of the day, which is lunch, at that time the consumption of sodium is higher than the other two nutrients; although the difference of sodium and unsaturated fat is very low but the intake of added sugar at that time is very less which is 19%.

The other two meals of the day shows that the consumption of sodium is higher at dinner time and added sugar at snack time.

In conclusion, I want to add that the consumption of all of these nutrients should be a little less than our routine consumption, as they might lead to some health concerns.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies some relevant comparisons, including that sodium is highest at dinner and added sugar is highest in snacks. However, it does not give a clear, accurate overview of the main pattern across all three nutrients, and several details are missing or imprecise. For example, at breakfast sodium is 14%, while saturated fat and added sugar are both 16%; they are equal, rather than differing from each other by 2%. At lunch, sodium is highest at 29%, but the comparison with saturated fat is not quantified, and “unsaturated fat” is reported instead of saturated fat. The final health recommendation is not required by this chart task and takes space from reporting the data. Focus on the key contrasts and support them with accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation: the response moves from breakfast to lunch and then to dinner and snacks, using signposts such as “The first meal” and “In conclusion.” This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the progression is not consistently clear because the final body paragraph combines dinner and snacks without reporting their figures or comparing all three nutrients. The conclusion shifts from describing the chart to giving personal advice, so it does not effectively summarise the data. Some linking is also awkward, particularly the long lunch sentence joined by “although.” Grouping the information by the most important patterns—for example, dinner’s high sodium and saturated fat versus snacks’ high added sugar—would create a clearer overall progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses a basic range of relevant terms, including “consumption,” “intake,” “nutrients,” and “difference,” and the general topic remains understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or repetitive. “Unsaturated fat” changes the chart’s category, which is saturated fat, while “at that time” is vague when describing a meal. Phrases such as “shows us” and “a little less than our routine consumption” are not natural or precise for an academic chart summary. There is also repetition of “consumption” and “meal.” Use accurate chart vocabulary and concise comparison language, such as “accounted for,” “proportion,” “highest share,” and “compared with,” while ensuring that category names match the visual.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, including a subordinate clause beginning “although,” but control is uneven. In the opening, “three types of nutrients that is” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “might considered” is missing the required verb form. The sentence about breakfast also has an unclear reference in “their difference,” while the lunch sentence becomes difficult to follow because several clauses are joined together. In “The other two meals of the day shows,” the plural subject requires a plural verb. Punctuation spacing is inconsistent, as in “sugar,and.” These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the general topic, but they make some comparisons harder to follow. Practise agreement and complete verb forms, and divide long sentences into clearer units.

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

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