Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-04
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 given pie charts illustrate the proportion of Sodium, saturated fat and added suger in four different meals of the day in the USA, more consumption of which may be very unhealthy.
In the first pie chart, snacks and breakfast have equal percentage of sodium, which is 14%. Whereas, saturated fat and added suger are just 2% more in breakfast as compared to sodium which is 16%. Analysing further,
snacks contain double quantity of added sugar than saturated fat which is 42% and 21% respectively.
However, dinner has 23% of added sugar which is almost half of the sodium(43%). Moreover, lunch has the least quantity of added suger which is 19% as compared to sodium and saturated fat which is 29 and 26% respectively.
Overall, it can be observed that percentage of sodium and saturated fat surpass in dinner. Moreover, suger has the highest percentage of quantity in snacks. However, Breakfast is the meal of the day which has the least quantity of all three nutrients which is consumed by the USA people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is inconsistent and contains several inaccuracies. For example, you state that snacks and breakfast have an equal percentage of sodium (14%), which is correct, but your subsequent comparisons are confusing. You mention that dinner has 23% added sugar, which is half of the sodium (43%), but the data shows sodium at 43% and sugar at 23%, which is not 'half'. Furthermore, you claim breakfast has the least quantity of all three nutrients, which is not supported by the data provided. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe and compare the figures, and focus on highlighting the most significant trends rather than listing individual data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by inaccurate data reporting and some awkward transitions. While you use cohesive devices like 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Analysing further', they are sometimes used to connect ideas that do not logically follow or are factually incorrect. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when comparing multiple categories across different meals. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring that each sentence flows naturally from the previous one and that your comparisons are logically sound and clearly linked.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are spelling errors such as 'suger' instead of 'sugar'. You use some relevant terms like 'proportion', 'consumption', and 'nutrients', but the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. There is also a lack of precision in word choice; for instance, 'surpass in dinner' is not a standard collocation in this context. To improve, work on using a wider variety of synonyms for 'percentage' and 'quantity', and ensure you check your spelling of key terms used in the prompt.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'more consumption of which may be very unhealthy' is an awkward construction. You also have issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'percentage of sodium and saturated fat surpass in dinner' (should be 'surpasses'). While these errors do not completely prevent understanding, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall flow. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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