Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-28

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 chart illustrates the different percentages in three types of meal of USA like (Sodium, Saturated fat and Added sugar). This meal may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Overall, The dinner percentage is high in two meals and breakfast percentage is low, according to diferent other meals.

On one hand, the breakfast percentage in sodium meal is 14 and saturated fat percentage is 16. Now the last meal added sugar percentage is also 16. The dinner percentage is high in sodium meal 43, but in saturated fat percentage is 37 and added sugar percentage is too much low, according to two other meals only 23.

On the other hand, The percentage of snacks is low in sodium only 14 and saturated gradually increase 21. Now in added sugar percentage is 42. Lunch percentage in sodium is 29 and saturated meal percentage is 26 , but in added sugar percentage is fell. It only 19 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying key trends such as the high sodium and saturated fat content in dinner. However, the reporting of data is inconsistent and at times confusing. For instance, the phrase 'added sugar percentage is too much low' is imprecise, and the comparison between categories lacks clarity. While the main features are identified, the lack of a clear, analytical overview and the somewhat disjointed presentation of data points mean the response does not fully develop the comparison. The information is presented as a list of figures rather than a cohesive summary, which limits the effectiveness of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'On one hand' and 'On the other hand,' which are not appropriate for a data summary task. Furthermore, the referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the different nutrients and meals. The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the lack of varied linking words hinders the flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic terms like 'percentage' and 'meal,' and there are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'sodium meal' instead of 'sodium content in meals.' There are also errors in word choice, such as 'fell' used as a noun or adjective, and 'too much low,' which is non-standard. To reach a higher band, the student needs to use more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion,' 'account for,' or 'constitute,' and improve the accuracy of collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'dinner percentage is high' (missing articles) and 'saturated gradually increase' (missing subject/tense error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalization. The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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