Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-14
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 average percentage of sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars in usual meals consumed by the people of USA.
overall, the consumption of sodium was the dominant nutrients among all three, whereas Saturated fat was the second largest portion at the dinner time, and added sugar consumption rate was the highest in the morning time.
Turning to the sodium consumption chart, at dinner time was the largest when people took sodium in 43% and 29% at lunch hours. While, snack and breakfast time shares the same amount, which is 14%.
On the other hand, saturated fat was in the second place of nutrients intake rates by the people of USA. They consumed 37% in dinner time, and 26% during the lunch hours. Meanwhile, in the beginning of the day the rate was 16% in the morning time, and 21% while eating snacks in evening time.
Lastly, added sugar intake rate was the highest in snacking items which is 42%, whereas dinner time showed the second largest share of this nutrient consumption. At the beginning of the morning they tend to consume 16% , and 19% during the lunch hours.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all three charts and identifies key features, such as the dominance of sodium at dinner and the high sugar content in snacks. However, the overview is slightly weak; it attempts to summarize but contains minor inaccuracies (e.g., stating sodium was the 'dominant nutrient' across all meals, which is not clearly supported by the data). The reporting of figures is generally accurate, but the comparison between categories could be more analytical. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the most significant trends rather than just listing data points, and ensure all comparisons are precise.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Turning to', 'On the other hand', and 'Lastly', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'While, snack and breakfast time shares the same amount'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally repetitive. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow and coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication. You use some topic-specific terms like 'nutrient intake' and 'consumption'. However, there are some word choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'usual meals' instead of 'typical meals' and 'snacking items' instead of 'snacks'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends and proportions, such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'a significant proportion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'at dinner time was the largest when people took sodium' (missing subject/awkward structure) and 'at the beginning of the morning they tend to consume 16%'. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in sentence construction that occasionally impede the flow. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are structured correctly without unnecessary words. Increasing the variety of error-free complex structures will help raise your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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