Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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 provided pie charts illustrate the average proportions in traditional meals of three types of nutrients in The USA namely; sodium, saturated fats and added sugars, that can be problematic if eaten heavily.

Overall, sodium and saturated fats are consumed mostly during dinner, whereas added sugars are eaten mostly as snack.

Sodium is mostly consumed during dinner(43%) in the US, the highest figure on the chart. While lunch meals account for 29% sodium, breakfast and snack make up for only 14% each, the lowest proportion for this category. Similarly, the highest figure for saturated fat is 37% which is consumed during dinner while the lunch, snack and breakfast represent 26%, 21% and 16% respectively.

However, 42% snack items incorporate added sugar which are consumed by US citizens whereas, during breakfast they consume 16% of it, while lunch and dinner constitute to 19% and 23% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all three nutrients and identifies the main trends, such as dinner being the primary time for sodium and saturated fat consumption. However, the response is 145 words long, failing to meet the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the overall development of the response. While the key features are highlighted, the analysis could be more comprehensive by making more direct comparisons between the nutrients rather than just listing percentages. The overview is clear, but the failure to meet the word count constraint limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'However', and 'whereas' are used to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, and some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more cohesive narrative. Overall, the structure is sufficient to follow the writer's argument, but it lacks the sophisticated flow required for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'nutrients', and 'constitute'. However, there are some awkward collocations and minor errors, such as 'eaten heavily' (which is unnatural; 'consumed in high quantities' would be better) and 'snack items' (should be 'snacks'). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'predominant', 'account for', or 'marginal'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as the incorrect use of a semicolon in the first sentence ('namely; sodium') and the awkward phrasing 'constitute to'. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors with parentheses and commas. While the meaning is always clear, the lack of a wider variety of error-free complex structures prevents a higher score. The majority of the sentences are understandable, but the control over complex grammar is inconsistent.

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

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