Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-01

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 chart below shows the amount of different nutrients that are typically consumed in different meals, talking about sodium, an average sodium consumed in breakfast and snacks is 14% and in lunch and dinner is 29% and 43% respectively. As shown in the chart sodium intake in lunch and dinner is relatively high and can be very harmful to one's health.

Meanwhile, saturated fats are equally in higher amount in lunch and dinner in a meal of an average person in USA, the lowest amount of saturated fats is in breakfast of a typical meal of every other person in USA, hence not very harmful to consume.

Lastly if we talk about added sugar which is generally very contagious for person's health is largely consumed as well, and the highest amount of added sugar comes in the form of snacks as they contain a lot of added preservatives and is highly consumed by large number of people in USA.

If we draw a comparison on all of these three nutrients in different meals consumed by an average person in USA, Sodium is relatively higher in lunch and so is saturated fats, meanwhile added sugar is highly consumed in a form of snacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the charts, such as the high sodium and saturated fat levels in lunch and dinner, and the peak of added sugar in snacks. However, the response lacks a clear overview, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. While you mention specific percentages for sodium, you fail to provide sufficient data points for saturated fats and added sugars, relying instead on general descriptions. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the trends in the introduction or as a separate paragraph, and include more comparative data across all three categories to fully satisfy the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Meanwhile', 'Lastly', 'If we talk about'). The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the comparison between meals is slightly muddled. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data analysis.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, but there are some notable inaccuracies. For example, you use the word 'contagious' to describe added sugar, which is incorrect in this context; 'harmful' or 'detrimental' would be more appropriate. Additionally, 'highly consumed' is repeated, and 'in a form of snacks' is slightly unnatural. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise terms for describing data trends—such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'predominant'—would significantly improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage (e.g., 'an average sodium consumed', 'in a meal of an average person in USA'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences that lack proper conjunctions or full stops. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic errors and ensuring consistent use of articles will help improve your accuracy.

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