Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-05

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 given pie chart illustrates the average ratio of three types of nutrients in typical meals :

The first category is sodium, in breakfast, 14% of sodium is consumed, whereas in snacks the amount of sodium is same as that of breakfast, on the other hand in lunch 29% of sodium is consumed subsequently in dinner, 43% of sodium [Na] is consumed.

The second category is saturated fat, in breakfast, 16% of saturated fat is consumed whereas whereas in lunch 26% of saturated fat is consumed on the other hand in dinner 37% of saturated fat is consumed in dinner meanwhile in snacks 21% of saturated fat is consumed.

The third category is added sugar, in breakfast 16% of sugar is consumed whereas in lunch 19% of added sugar is consumed on the other hand, 23% of sugar is consumed in dinner whereas in snacks the consumption of added sugar is 42% which is the highest ratio of all.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers all three categories of nutrients and provides data for each meal type. However, it fails to provide a clear overview or summary of the main trends, which is a requirement for Task 1. The writing is essentially a list of data points rather than a report that selects and highlights key features or makes meaningful comparisons. For instance, it does not mention that dinner is the highest source for two of the three nutrients, or that snacks are the primary source of added sugar. To reach a higher band, you must synthesize the information rather than simply transcribing the figures for each category.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three paragraphs, each dedicated to one nutrient. While this provides a basic structure, the internal flow is repetitive and mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and often redundant (e.g., 'whereas', 'on the other hand', 'meanwhile'). There is a lack of logical progression between sentences, as each sentence simply lists a percentage without connecting it to the broader context of the data. The paragraphing is functional, but the overall structure lacks the sophistication required for a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'is consumed' and 'the amount of', which makes the text monotonous. There is little attempt to use a range of vocabulary to describe trends or proportions (e.g., 'account for', 'constitute', 'the majority of', 'a significant proportion'). While the terminology related to the nutrients is accurate, the lack of lexical variety prevents the response from demonstrating the flexibility required for a higher band. Expanding your repertoire of reporting verbs and nouns for data description is essential.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The sentence structures are very simple and repetitive, consisting mostly of basic clauses joined by commas or simple conjunctions. There is a lack of complex sentence structures. Punctuation is inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing full stops. For example, the first paragraph is a single long sentence with poor punctuation. There are also minor errors, such as the unnecessary repetition of 'whereas' and 'in dinner'. To improve, you should focus on using a wider variety of sentence types, including subordinate clauses, and ensure that your punctuation is used correctly to separate distinct ideas.

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

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