Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-25

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 6.5)

The pie charts represent the average proportion of sodium, saturated fat and added sugars which may be also unhealthy if preferred too much in typical meals such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks consumed by the USA.

Overall, dinner contains the highest proportion of both sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks account for the largest share of added sugar. By contrast, breakfast contributes the smallest proportion of all three nutrients.

To begin with, 43% of sodium used for dinner, which is the highest choice compare with the others, while sodium is least consumed at snack as well as breakfast meal which is 14%. 29% of sodium used in lunch time. In terms of saturated fat, during dinner 37% of people preferred it, whereas breakfast have least choice (16%).

Lunch and snack account for 26% and 21% respectively. Around two fifth individuals liked added sugar at snack meal. However, added sugar represents on dinner, lunch and breakfast meals almost similar which are 23% ,approximately a fifth as well as 16% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features and making relevant comparisons. You successfully highlighted the highest and lowest proportions for each nutrient. However, the analysis is slightly hampered by some inaccurate reporting of the data. For instance, you stated that 43% of sodium is used for dinner, which is correct, but your description of added sugar percentages is less precise. To improve, ensure that your data points are clearly linked to the specific categories and avoid vague phrasing like 'preferred it' when describing nutrient consumption, as this misinterprets the data provided in the charts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'By contrast', and 'To begin with' to guide the reader. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the sodium and saturated fat sections in the first body paragraph is abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the list of percentages for added sugar is difficult to follow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'consumed', and 'account for'. However, there are instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'preferred too much' instead of 'consumed in excess' and 'least choice' instead of 'lowest proportion'. These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise descriptors for data trends would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage (e.g., 'breakfast have least choice' should be 'breakfast has the lowest proportion'). There are also issues with sentence construction, such as '43% of sodium used for dinner', which lacks a main verb. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the text. To improve, focus on ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and pay closer attention to article usage and pluralization.

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