Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07

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 pie charts illustrate the average percentages of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar consumed in four typical meals in the USA, namely breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

Overall, dinner accounted for the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks contained the largest percentage of added sugar. In contrast, breakfast consistently contributed the lowest percentages of all three nutrients.

Regarding sodium, dinner made up the largest share at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%. Breakfast and snacks each accounted for 14%.

A similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat. Dinner represented the highest proportion, at 37%, while lunch accounted for 26%. Snacks contributed 21%, and breakfast had the lowest figure of 16%.

By contrast, added sugar was mainly consumed in snacks, which made up 42% of the total. Dinner accounted for 23%, followed by lunch at 19%, whereas breakfast again recorded the smallest percentage, at 16% relatively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported the key features of the data. The comparisons between the three nutrients across the four meal types are accurate and well-supported by the figures provided. You have successfully highlighted the contrast between dinner's dominance in sodium and saturated fat versus the snacks' dominance in added sugar. The information is presented in a logical manner that fully satisfies the requirements of an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the data, which makes the information easy to follow. You have used cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'Regarding', and 'A similar pattern' effectively to link your ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from the introduction to the body paragraphs. There is a clear structure that guides the reader through the data without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately. Terms such as 'accounted for', 'contributed', 'represented', and 'recorded' are used appropriately in the context of reporting statistics. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is somewhat standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more varied synonyms or sophisticated collocations to describe trends and proportions. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'Dinner accounted for the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks contained the largest percentage of added sugar.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence structures are clear. There are no significant grammatical errors, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. The control over complex structures is consistent, which supports clear communication throughout the report.

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

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