Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-28

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.

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 three pie charts show the average percentage of sodium saturated fat and added sugar in four meals eaten in the USA. The meals are breakfast lunch dinner and snacks.

overall dinner contains the highest amount of sodium and saturated fat while snacks have the highest percentage of added sugar. Breakfast has the lowest proportion of all three nutrients

For sodium dinner accounts for the largest share at 43% followed by lunch at 29% breakfast and snacks are the same with 14% each

In terms of saturated fat dinner is again the highest at 37%. Lunch makes up 26% while snacks represent 21% breakfast has the smallest percentage at 16%

For added sugar snacks are the biggest source making up 42% of the total Dinner contributes 23% and lunch is lower at 19% breakfast has the lowest figure again at 16% dinner is main meal for sodium saturated fat whereas snacks contain the most added sugar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the charts and provided relevant comparisons. You covered all three nutrients and all four meal types, meeting the requirements of the task. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant trends, such as dinner being the primary source of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks dominate in added sugar. To reach a higher band, ensure you integrate your data more fluidly into the narrative rather than listing figures in separate, repetitive sentences. While the information is accurate, a more analytical approach to comparing the data points would enhance the quality of your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with each focusing on a specific nutrient or general trend. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures and lack a variety of linking words or transition phrases to connect your ideas smoothly. For example, the transition between the paragraphs could be improved with better signposting. While the progression of ideas is clear, the mechanical nature of the writing—often starting sentences with the same structure—prevents the flow from being truly natural or sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information clearly. You use appropriate terms like 'proportion', 'share', and 'contributes'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more varied synonyms and precise collocations. For instance, instead of repeating 'highest' or 'lowest', you could use terms like 'predominant', 'minimal', or 'the most significant contributor'. There are no major spelling errors, but the overall lexical range does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there is a lack of complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, which are necessary for a higher band. Punctuation is inconsistent; for example, there are missing commas after introductory phrases and between items in a list. Additionally, some sentences are run-on or lack proper terminal punctuation. Improving your control over sentence variety and ensuring accurate punctuation would significantly elevate your score in this criterion.

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