Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10

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 three pie chart given below illustrate the average percentage of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars consumed in USA, which may be unhealthy if eaten too much. overall, sodium is consumed highest in dinner and added sugar in snack, saturated fat is used all most equally in all the meals.

firstly, in terms of sodium, dinner accounts for 43% which is the top used ingredient amongst all of the other nutrients, followed by lunch at 29%, whereas breakfast and snacks contributed equally at 14% each. secondly, for saturated fat the pattern is similar, with dinner at 37%, followed by lunch at 26% and snacks at 21%, leaving breakfast at 16% at the lowest.

however, added sugar has dominated in snacks by 42%, then dinner contributes 23%which is quite average, then lunch at 19%, and again breakfast is the least popular amongst the other categories by 16% in the United States of America.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the charts and makes relevant comparisons. You have clearly highlighted the highest and lowest consumption patterns for each nutrient across the four meal categories. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped; while you mention that sodium is highest in dinner and sugar in snacks, you could have provided a more comprehensive summary by noting the general trend that dinner is the primary source for two of the three nutrients. The data is accurately reported, and the response covers all parts of the prompt effectively, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 level of task completion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction followed by separate paragraphs for each nutrient. The use of cohesive devices such as 'firstly', 'secondly', and 'however' helps guide the reader through the data. However, the paragraphing is somewhat mechanical, and the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow could be improved by using more varied linking phrases rather than relying on simple sequence markers. The structure is sufficient to ensure the information is easy to follow, justifying a Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'contributed', 'accounts for', and 'dominated'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'top used ingredient' (which is awkward) and 'all most' (which should be 'almost'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and ensuring that word forms are used correctly in context. The current range is sufficient to convey the information clearly, which aligns with Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, including missing articles (e.g., 'in USA'), punctuation issues (e.g., '23%which'), and capitalization errors (e.g., starting sentences with lowercase letters). These errors occur frequently enough to be noticeable but do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you should focus on proofreading for basic punctuation, capitalization, and article usage, and attempt to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.

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

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