Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25

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 three different types of nutrients, which may be unhealthy if consumed too much.

Overall, a significant number of people eat these nutrients in their dinner, after that they conusmed them in their lunch and snacks.

In breakfast, the consumption of sodium was slightly lower compared to saturated fat and added sugar, standing at 14%, 16% and 16% respectively. In lunch, the consumption of sodium was slightly higher compared to other two nutrients, sodium at 29%, saturated fat at 26% and added sugar at 19%.

In dinner, the proportions of these nutrients was much more than others. The consumrism of sodium was 43%, saturated fat was 37% and added sugar was slightly low compared to other two nutrients. However, in snacks the consumption of added sugar was standing at 43%. In contrast, the percentage of sodium was only 14% and saturated fat at 21%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the three nutrients and their proportions across four meal categories. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; it claims a significant number of people eat these nutrients in dinner, then lunch, then snacks, which is a misinterpretation of the data provided in the pie charts. While the main features are selected, the comparison between categories could be more analytical. For instance, the report mentions specific percentages but lacks a cohesive summary of the trends, such as the dominance of added sugar in snacks versus sodium in dinner. The response is just over the minimum length, which limits the depth of the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs for each meal type. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In breakfast', 'In lunch', and 'In contrast', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'after that they conusmed them in their lunch'. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences within paragraphs could be improved to create a more natural progression of information. The structure is sufficient for a Band 6, but lacks the sophisticated, flexible use of cohesive devices required for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'consumption', and 'nutrients'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'conusmed' (consumed), 'consumrism' (consumption), and 'slightly low' (which should be 'lower'). These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a limited range and occasional lack of precision. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensuring accurate spelling of key terms related to the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the proportions of these nutrients was' (subject-verb agreement error, should be 'were') and 'compared to other two nutrients' (missing article 'the'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the information. The student demonstrates a basic control of grammar, but the frequency of these minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage is recommended.

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

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