Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02
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 6.5)
The three pie charts illustrate the average proportions of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar contained in typical meals consumed in the USA.
Overall, dinner contains the highest proportion of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks account for the largest percentage of added sugar. Breakfast generally has the lowest or one of the lowest proportions of all three nutrients.
In terms of sodium, dinner makes up the largest proportion, at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%. Breakfast and snacks each account for 14%. A similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat, with dinner representing 37%, while lunch contributes 26%. Snacks account for 21%, and breakfast has the smallest share, at 16%.
The distribution of added sugar is different. Snacks are responsible for 42%, which is almost twice the proportion found in dinner, at 23%. Lunch accounts for 19%, while breakfast has the lowest percentage, at 16%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task well, identifying the main features and making relevant comparisons between the three nutrients. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant trends. However, the response is 147 words long, which falls just short of the 150-word minimum requirement. This minor omission prevents the response from reaching the highest band, as it fails to fully satisfy the length constraint. Despite this, the data is accurately reported and the key differences between the nutrient distributions are well-summarised.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the information effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'A similar pattern', and 'The distribution of... is different' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively to separate the different categories of nutrients. The flow of information is smooth and easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for an academic report. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'proportions', 'account for', 'contributes', and 'distribution'. The language is precise, and there are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling. While the range is sufficient for the task, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated synonyms or varied collocations to describe the data trends, which would elevate the response to a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and the majority of sentences are error-free. Punctuation is used correctly, and the sentence structure is varied enough to maintain interest. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The control of grammar is consistent, and the writing is clear and professional throughout the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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