Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-27
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 4.5)
The bar chart illustrates the proportion of typical meals having different nutrients if these meals consume too much, this will be unhealthy for the inhabitants of United States of America..
Overall, the nutrients include-sodium, saturated fats and artificial sugar-while the dinner contained highest proportion of sodium from the other nutrients. The snacks accounted for the second highest added sugar, while the amount of sodium for snacks and breakfast are levelled off.
Looking at the chart in more detail, 37% of dinner cantained saturated fat
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response is severely under-length, containing only 84 words against the required 150-word minimum, which significantly penalises the task achievement score. Furthermore, the student misidentifies the visual data type by calling it a 'bar chart' instead of a pie chart. While the introduction attempts to paraphrase the prompt, it becomes grammatically convoluted with the phrase 'if these meals consume too much'. The overview touches upon some main features, such as dinner having the highest proportion of sodium and snacks accounting for added sugar, but the response cuts off mid-sentence ('37% of dinner cantained saturated fat'), resulting in incomplete data reporting and an underdeveloped summary.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response attempts basic cohesion using transitional phrases such as 'Overall' and 'Looking at the chart in more detail'. However, the logical progression is cut short because the text terminates abruptly after only three sentences. Paragraphing is attempted, but the final paragraph consists of a single incomplete sentence. Referencing is generally clear where used, but the lack of completion prevents a fully coherent overall structure. Cohesive devices are minimal, reflecting the severe length constraint of the response.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student demonstrates a limited range of vocabulary with some appropriate attempts, such as 'proportion', 'highest', and 'accounted for'. There are, however, noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'artificial sugar' instead of 'added sugar' and 'levelled off' used incorrectly to describe equal values rather than a trend over time. Spelling errors are also present, notably 'cantained' instead of 'contained'. The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, consisting mostly of simple and flawed complex forms. There are major grammatical issues, such as the run-on and fragment construction in the opening sentence ('...if these meals consume too much, this will be unhealthy for the inhabitants of United States of America.'). Frequent structural errors impede fluency and demonstrate weak control over complex grammar, although the basic meaning of the initial clauses remains understandable.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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