Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-27

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.

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 6.0)

The following article summarises information about the typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much. The average percentages of those nutrients are mentioned in the typical meals consumed in the USA.

'Sodium', 14% in breakfast and snack . Dinner comprised of 43% sodium and lunch at 29% . 'Saturated Fat' in breakfast was at 16% , lunch at 26% and dinner at 37%. From this data it can also be concluded that the dinner had way more calories than the other meals . 'Added Sugars' , snacks comprised of 42% sugar whereas breakfast lunch and dinner had lower percentage of added sugar from 16% to 23%.

The survey conveys that people in USA preferred a high caloric dinner and snack . Sodium and added sugar were the top two nutrients which surpassed the daily healthy limit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main features of the charts, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You have listed percentages without providing a cohesive overview or sufficient comparative analysis. For instance, you mention that dinner has the highest sodium and saturated fat, but you do not effectively contrast this with the other meals or highlight the specific trends for snacks. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview paragraph and expand on the data points to meet the length requirement while providing a more analytical summary of the trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into three short paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and the transition between sentences feels mechanical. For example, the second paragraph is a list of data points rather than a flowing analysis. To improve, use linking words such as 'in contrast', 'furthermore', or 'conversely' to connect your ideas. Additionally, ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus—one for the overview and others for the detailed comparison of the nutrients—to improve the overall structure and flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'comprised of' and 'percentage'. There is also a lack of sophisticated vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'accounted for'. Furthermore, there are some minor issues with punctuation and spacing around your data points. To improve, try to incorporate more varied reporting verbs and nouns related to data analysis. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you express the information more clearly and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. For example, 'Dinner comprised of 43% sodium and lunch at 29%' is grammatically incomplete. Additionally, there are issues with article usage ('in USA' should be 'in the USA') and inconsistent punctuation around percentages. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that every sentence has a clear, complete structure to improve your accuracy.

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