Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01
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 graphs the average proportions of three types of nutrients in typical meals consumed in the USA, which maight be unhealthy if excessively consumed.
Overall, dinner contained the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat, whereas added sugar found by far more in snacks, with breakfast consistently comprising the lowest percentage of all three nutrients.
Dinner included the majority of nutrients, sodium consitituted 43% and 37% recorded for saturated fat, while added sugar accounted for almlost a quater (23%). Sodium and saturated fat represented the second-largest categories in lunch, 29% and 26% respectively. In addition, sodium in breakfast and snacks registered equal distribution among both at 14%, with saturated fat in snacks making up 21% and only 16% in breakfast.
Looking at added sugar, which distributed differently among meals. Snack contituted the major category for it at 42%, followed by dinner made up 23% of the total add sugar. Lunch ranked third at 19%, while it was only 16% in breakfast, making it the lowest meals with added sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response successfully identifies the main features of the charts and provides relevant comparisons. You have clearly highlighted the dominance of dinner for sodium and saturated fat, and snacks for added sugar. The overview is effective in summarizing the key trends. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in the data reporting; for instance, you mention 'dinner included the majority of nutrients' which is slightly ambiguous, and there are minor inconsistencies in the data points cited (e.g., 'almost a quarter' for 23% is acceptable, but precision is preferred). Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well and provides a clear, logical summary of the provided data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from general trends to specific nutrient breakdowns. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in addition', and 'followed by' to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the data. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion. The referencing is clear, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the information presented.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'comprising', 'registered', and 'distributed'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'maight' (might), 'consitituted' (constituted), 'quater' (quarter), and 'contituted' (constituted). These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and ensure spelling accuracy. The use of 'major category' and 'ranked third' shows a good attempt to vary your language, though further development of academic vocabulary would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'The pie graphs the average proportions' (missing 'show'), 'added sugar found by far more' (passive voice error), and 'making it the lowest meals' (should be 'meal'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor slips throughout. The errors do not significantly impede communication, but they do indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of sentence construction to achieve a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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