Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-29

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 4.0)

The chart illustrates the ratio of three kinds of food which may be unsafe if used to

to much about vitamins and minerals.

Overall, there is significant change in three kinds of meals in USa. There are three types of nutrients consumed in USA through breakfast, lunch and dinner.The highest number of eaten saturated fat and added sugar in breakfast while, sodium in low number.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response makes a limited attempt to describe the charts, but it does not accurately report the main patterns. The claim that saturated fat and added sugar are highest at breakfast is incorrect: both are highest at dinner and snacks respectively, while sodium peaks at dinner. The statement that sodium is “in low number” is also unclear and overlooks its 43% dinner share. The charts compare three nutrients across four meals, but breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are not all covered clearly. The response is also substantially below the required 150 words, leaving little room to select and explain key comparisons. To improve, give an accurate overview first, then report the most important figures for each nutrient and compare meal patterns directly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, beginning with an introduction and then an overview signalled by “Overall”. However, the ideas do not progress into a clear account of the chart data: the second sentence makes a broad claim, and the final sentence gives an inaccurate comparison without supporting figures. The response also runs several ideas together, as in “breakfast, lunch and dinner.The highest”, and the charts’ four meal categories are not consistently represented. Because the response is very short, there is no developed paragraph structure or sequence of comparisons. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and detailed comparisons, and connect each point to a specific nutrient and meal.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a few relevant terms, including “nutrients”, “saturated fat”, “added sugar” and “sodium”, so the topic is identifiable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing the charts. “Ratio” does not clearly describe the percentages shown, and “unsafe if used to to much about vitamins and minerals” is confusing and does not reflect the task’s point about nutrients being unhealthy when consumed in excess. “Highest number of eaten” and “in low number” are also unsuitable collocations. Aim for precise chart language such as “proportion”, “accounted for”, “highest share” and “lowest percentage”, while checking that the wording matches the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts simple statements and an overview, but grammatical control is uneven. The opening contains a broken construction (“if used to to much about vitamins and minerals”), while “There are three types of nutrients consumed in USA through breakfast, lunch and dinner” has an awkward structure and is missing an article before “USA”. The final sentence is also difficult to parse because “while” does not connect the comparison clearly, and the singular “number” does not fit the plural idea being expressed. There is little variety in sentence structures, and punctuation and spacing errors appear in “dinner.The”. Build clear subject–verb sentences, use accurate comparative structures, and proofread articles and punctuation.

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