Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-06
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 chart illustrates about the average portions of soduim,saturated fats,and added sugar contained in four different meals consumed in USA : breakfast,lunch,dinner and snacks.
in terms of soodium,dinner makes upto latrgest shar at 43%,followed by lunch at 29%.Breakfast and snacks each account for 14%. A similar pattern can be sen for saturated fat, with dinner again being the highest at 37% while lunch contributes 26%.Snacks account for 21% and has the lowest proportion at 16%
the distribution of added sugar differs considerably. Snacks are responsible for 42%, which is almost twice the proportion found in dinner, at 23%. Lunch and breakfast contributes 19% and 16% respectively.Therefore, while dinner is the main source for sodium and saturated fats, snacks are the biggest contributor to sugar in typical american needs.
Overall, dinner accounts for the largest proportion of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contain by far the highest percentage of added sugar. Breakfast consistently represents the smallest or one of the smallest proportions across the three nutrients.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 makes relevant comparisons between the three nutrients. You have correctly highlighted that dinner is the primary source of sodium and saturated fats, while snacks are the main source of added sugar. The overview is clear and effectively summarises the key trends. However, there is a minor inaccuracy in the body paragraph regarding saturated fats, where you state 'Snacks account for 21% and has the lowest proportion at 16%'. This is confusing and contradicts the data provided in the chart. Aside from this, the response covers all parts of the task well.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organised, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary overview. You use cohesive devices such as 'in terms of', 'followed by', and 'while' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is slightly disjointed; the final sentence of the second paragraph feels like it belongs in the overview, and the overall structure could be improved by ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. Additionally, there are some minor issues with punctuation and spacing that occasionally make the flow feel slightly mechanical.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'contributes', and 'distribution'. However, there are several spelling errors (e.g., 'soduim', 'soodium', 'latrgest', 'american needs' instead of 'meals') which detract from the professional tone. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and ensure accuracy in spelling. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. For example, 'The pie chart illustrates about' is incorrect (illustrates should not be followed by 'about'), and there are missing spaces after commas throughout the text. Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'Lunch and breakfast contributes' (should be 'contribute'). These errors are noticeable but do not impede overall communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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