Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-30
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 provided charts illustrates the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Overall, the proportions of all three nutrients are equal at breakfast, while they reach their highest levels at dinner. However, there is a substantial increase in the consumption of added sugar in snacks.
Additionally, the intake of nutrients is varied considerably during the period dinner. 23% of added sugar, 37% of saturated fat, and then 43% of sodium, is harmful for the health. Moreover, the percentages of nutrients at snack is climbing steadily, beginning from 14% to 42%. The proportion of fats and sugar is constant in breakfast, while there is a slight decrease in the percentage of sodium.
It is generally accepted that over intake of such nutrients can cause illness and is also harmful for our body. To remain healthy, we should consume a considerable amount of nutrients throughout the day.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the highest levels at dinner and the trend for snacks, the comparison between nutrients is inconsistent. For instance, you mention '23% of added sugar, 37% of saturated fat, and then 43% of sodium' for dinner, but these figures are not clearly contextualised against the other meals. Additionally, the final paragraph includes personal opinion ('It is generally accepted that...'), which is unnecessary for an Academic Task 1 report. To improve, focus strictly on reporting the data provided without adding external commentary or advice.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'Additionally', and 'Moreover' to link ideas. However, the progression of information is occasionally disjointed. For example, the transition between the description of dinner and the snack trend is abrupt. The referencing is also slightly unclear in places, such as when you mention 'the period dinner' or 'the percentages of nutrients at snack'. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that cohesive devices are used to connect related data points would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'substantial increase', and 'climbing steadily'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'over intake' should be 'excessive intake' or 'overconsumption', and 'varied considerably during the period dinner' is awkward phrasing. You also use 'harmful for the health' and 'harmful for our body', which are slightly repetitive. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that your vocabulary choices are consistently natural and accurate in the context of data reporting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors. Subject-verb agreement is an issue, such as 'The provided charts illustrates' (should be 'illustrate'). There are also punctuation and preposition errors, such as 'at snack' (should be 'in snacks') and 'at breakfast' (should be 'for breakfast'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. To improve, pay closer attention to basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing data points on charts.
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