Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)
The circle 1 shows the cosumed amount of sodium in USA. sodium consumed in breakfast is 14%.The sodium consumed by USA at lunch is about 29%. The sodium consumed by USA at dinner is 43% which is a large quantity that consumed at dinner. The sodium consumed by USA in snacks is 14%.
The 2nd circle shows saturated fats.The saturated fats consumed by USA at breakfast is 16%. The saturated fat consumed by USA on dinner is 26%. The saturated fat consumed by USA at dinner is 37%. The saturated fat consumed by USA in sancks is 21%.
The 3rd circle is about added sugar consumed by USA.The added fat consumed by USA on breakfast is 16%. The added sugar consumed by USA on lunch is 19%. The added sugar consumed by USA at dinner is 23%. The added sugar consumed by USA in snacks is 42% which is a large quantity of sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
You report many of the chart figures accurately, including sodium at dinner (43%) and added sugar in snacks (42%), and you cover all three nutrients and meal types. However, the response mainly lists values rather than selecting and comparing the key features. There is no clear overview of the contrasting patterns: dinner is the largest source of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contribute the most added sugar. One figure is also mislabelled: saturated fat at lunch is 26%, but you call it dinner; dinner is 37%. In addition, “added fat” is used once instead of added sugar. These omissions and inaccuracies leave the summary only partially developed.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response is divided into three sections, one for each nutrient, so readers can identify which chart is being described. However, the organisation is largely a repeated sequence of separate figures, with little comparison or progression between the meal patterns. Repeated openings such as “The sodium consumed by USA…” and “The saturated fat consumed by USA…” make the writing mechanical, while the transitions between points are minimal. A clearer overview followed by grouped comparisons—for example, comparing dinner’s high sodium and saturated-fat shares with snacks’ high added-sugar share—would create a more coherent line of development. Use paragraphing to distinguish the overview from the supporting details.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
Your vocabulary is sufficient to name the nutrients, meals and percentages, and terms such as “sodium,” “saturated fats” and “added sugar” are relevant to the task. However, the wording is basic and highly repetitive, especially the repeated phrase “consumed by USA.” Some choices are inaccurate or awkward: “circle” is less suitable than “pie chart,” “added fat” changes the nutrient being described, and “large quantity” is imprecise for a percentage share. There are also spelling errors in “cosumed” and “sancks.” Use a wider range of accurate reporting verbs and comparison language, such as “accounted for,” “represented,” “highest share” and “compared with.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
Most sentences use a simple subject–verb pattern, and the figures are generally understandable. However, the range of sentence structures is very limited, and frequent errors affect accuracy. For example, “The circle 1 shows” has an unnatural word order, while “sodium consumed in breakfast is 14%” is missing an article and uses an incorrect preposition. The sentence “which is a large quantity that consumed at dinner” has a faulty relative clause and verb form. Capitalisation and spacing after full stops are also inconsistent, as in “14%.The.” Practise accurate comparative sentences and vary structures, for example: “Dinner accounts for 43% of sodium intake, compared with 14% at breakfast.”
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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