Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-18

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 indicate the standard proportion in common meals of three types of nourishment, all of which may be detrimental to health if consume by people excessively.

Overall, it can be observed that, sodium is similar in snack and breakfast, while at the time of dinner it is highest among all other categories.

To commence with, sodium is comparable at two different time of eating food which is snacks and breakfast, but adding extra sweetness was registered top in snacks, and at the time of breakfast it is similar to saturated fat which is 16 percent. Sodium has maximum nutrients at the time of dinner which is 43 percent, and the added sugar and saturated fat do not even close 40 percent. Furthermore, sodium and saturated fat is very close to each other, at the time of afternoon meal, which is 29 and 26 percent respectively. Added sugar is less than 20 percent in lunch.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying key trends such as the high sodium content at dinner and the prevalence of added sugar in snacks. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The comparison between categories is occasionally confusing, such as the statement that 'added sugar and saturated fat do not even close 40 percent' at dinner, which lacks clarity. While the main features are selected, the report would benefit from a more structured approach to comparing the three nutrients across all four meal types to ensure a more comprehensive overview. The data points are generally accurate, but the lack of a clear, analytical summary limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'at the time of'. Some transitions, like 'To commence with', feel slightly forced given the context of a data report. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track which nutrient is being compared to which meal type. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows logically from the previous one would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'time of' and 'nutrients'. While the student uses some relevant terms like 'detrimental' and 'proportion', there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'adding extra sweetness was registered top'. The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but the lack of sophisticated collocations or varied terminology prevents a higher score. Expanding the range of descriptive verbs and nouns related to data analysis would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'if consume by people excessively' (should be 'consumed'), 'two different time of eating food' (should be 'times'), and 'do not even close 40 percent' (should be 'do not even approach'). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over complex structures, keeping the score in the mid-range.

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

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