Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-16

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.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The table and pie charts illustrate the total numbers of visitors and their satisfaction level regarding Ashdown Museum before and after refurbishment.

Overall, the refurbishment led to a significant increase in visitor numbers and a notable improvement in satisfaction.

In the table, it shows that visitors before refurbishment were fewer compared to after it. Before refurbishment, the dissatisfied remained at first with 40% and satisfied with 30%, respectively, but there was very dissatisfied with the low margin of 10%. As very satisfied and no response had 15% and 5%, respectively. The most important point is the number of visitors increased from 74 thousand to 92 thousand.

On the other hand, the year after refurbishment showed a different scenario where satisfied category remained at top with 40%, and the number of very satisfied increased from 15 to 35%. Dissatisfied visitors declined from 40 to 15% and move from second to third spot. Very dissatisfied visitors declined steadily from 10 to 5%, but no response visitors remain static and stay at 5%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

You have addressed the main features of the data, including the total visitor numbers and the shifts in satisfaction levels. However, there is a significant issue: your introduction states the charts show data for 'Ashdown Museum', whereas the prompt provided to you describes charts showing 'average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients'. Because you have described an entirely different topic than the one provided in the prompt, the response is considered off-topic. While you have successfully identified trends and made comparisons, the failure to address the actual subject matter of the task significantly impacts your score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, a body paragraph for the 'before' data, and a body paragraph for the 'after' data. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In the table', and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader. However, the progression within the second body paragraph is slightly mechanical, and some referencing is unclear (e.g., 'the dissatisfied remained at first'). While the structure is generally clear, the lack of a cohesive link between the two data sets and the reliance on simple transition words limits the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'refurbishment', 'significant increase', 'notable improvement', and 'static'. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'remained at first' and 'move from second to third spot', which slightly hinder precision. You also struggle with collocations when describing the data, such as 'very dissatisfied with the low margin of 10%'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'the dissatisfied remained at first with 40% and satisfied with 30%, respectively' (which is syntactically confusing) and 'as very satisfied and no response had 15% and 5%'. Additionally, there are issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and clearer sentence construction.

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

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