Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-06

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 pie charts illustrate the percentages of three different types of nutrients typically present in meals consumed in the USA.

Overall, sodium and saturated fats are found high in dinner, followed by in lunch. Snack and breakfast have minor share in both. In contrast, added sugar is largely found in snack and dinner respectively. Breakfast and lunch have a small amount of added sugar.

Breakfast is the best among all, as it has the least amount of all three nutrients. Lunch on the other hand accounted for 29% of sodium, 26% of saturated fat and only 19% of added sugar.

Now, coming to dinner we see that sodium was the largest at 42% and saturated fat at 37%, while only 23% of is added sugar. Finally, snack represented only 14% of sodium, 21% of saturated fat and 42% of added sugar, which was the highest among all in any catagory.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features of the three nutrients across the four meal types. You successfully highlight the key trends, such as dinner being the highest for sodium and saturated fats, and snacks being the highest for added sugar. However, the analysis could be improved by making more direct comparisons between the categories rather than listing figures. For instance, noting that dinner contains more than double the sodium of snacks would provide a more analytical approach. The overview is clear, but the claim that breakfast is the 'best' is slightly subjective; it is better to describe it as having the 'lowest proportions' of these nutrients.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'on the other hand', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is slightly uneven, and some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus and that the relationship between sentences is more tightly integrated through a wider variety of linking words and referencing techniques.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'illustrate', 'percentages', 'nutrients', and 'accounted for'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'minor share' (should be 'minor share of the total') and 'in any catagory' (spelling error: 'category'). The vocabulary is functional and allows for clear communication, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns, such as 'constitute', 'comprise', or 'a significant proportion', rather than relying on basic verbs like 'is' or 'found'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'sodium and saturated fats are found high in dinner' (should be 'are highest in dinner') and 'only 23% of is added sugar' (incorrect word order). Punctuation is generally accurate, but the sentence structures are somewhat repetitive. To achieve a higher score, focus on increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring greater accuracy in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. The current level of control is sufficient for a band 6.0, as errors do not impede communication.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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