Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-22
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 given bar chart elucidates information about Sodium , Saturated fat , and Added sugar . The chart compares the differences categories and present the data in number or percentage . Overall it is clear that there are noticeable differences among the categories shown in the chart . According to the chart the first main is Sodium there are snack is 14% . The breakfast is 14% . The lunch is 29% and the last activity is dinner that percentage is 43 . The next part is Saturated fat that first is snack that percentage is 21% . The breakfast is 16% . The lunch is 26% and the last activity is dinner that percentage is 37 . The chart compares the categories shown in the chart . The next part is Added sugar that breakfast is 16% . The lunch is 19% . The dinner is 23% . The last and the main activity is snack that percentage is 42% and it is high . It is the clear comparison among the cahrt
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You report most of the chart’s figures accurately, including dinner as the largest source of sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), and snacks as the largest source of added sugar (42%). This shows relevant understanding of the data. However, the response only partially fulfils the summarising task: the overview, “there are noticeable differences,” is too general and does not identify the main contrasts. The figures are presented one category at a time, with little comparison across nutrients or meals; for example, you could highlight that breakfast is the lowest sodium meal, while snacks contribute the least sodium but the most added sugar. Develop a concise overview and select the most significant comparisons rather than mainly listing values.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response has a basic sequence, moving through sodium, saturated fat and added sugar, and the repeated labels help readers identify which figures belong to each nutrient. However, progression is limited: the opening and closing both make general statements about comparison, while the body largely repeats the same pattern of listing meal values. Phrases such as “The next part” and “The chart compares the categories shown in the chart” do not create clear links between related data. Organise the response into an introduction, a focused overview and paragraphs that group meaningful comparisons—for instance, dinner’s high sodium and saturated-fat shares versus snacks’ high added-sugar share. This would make the information easier to follow and reduce repetition.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “categories,” “breakfast,” “lunch,” “dinner” and “snack,” so the reader can generally understand the subject. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or repetitive. “The first main is Sodium” and “the last activity is dinner” are not natural ways to describe chart categories, while “the chart compares the categories shown in the chart” repeats the same wording without adding meaning. There are also spelling and presentation slips, such as “cahrt,” and unnecessary spaces before punctuation. Use precise terms such as “meal,” “share” and “accounted for,” and vary comparisons with phrases like “the highest proportion” and “by contrast.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
Most of the response uses short, simple statements, and the figures are often expressed in a form that is understandable. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, with frequent errors and little variety in sentence structure. For example, “The chart compares the differences categories and present the data” has problems with both the noun phrase and subject–verb agreement. “According to the chart the first main is Sodium there are snack is 14%” joins several ideas without a clear grammatical structure, and “that percentage is 43” lacks the percent sign in the sentence. Use complete sentences with accurate articles and agreement, and practise combining comparisons using controlled clauses, such as “Dinner accounts for 43% of sodium, compared with 14% at breakfast and in snacks.”
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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