Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-09
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 provided pie charts illustrate the average shares of the three categories of nutrients taken by the USA in their typical meals which might be harmful for their health if consumed in large amounts.
Overall, the sodium, saturated fat and added sugar is least consumed in the breakfast, while the sodium and saturated fat is highest in their dinners followed by the snacks which experiences large share of added sugar.
In comparison between the sodium and saturated fat, dinner contains just over two-fifths of sodium and approximately one-third of saturated fat. On the other hand, snacks have minimal quantity of sodium and saturated fat which are just over one-tenth and around one-fifth respectively. The percentage of sodium and saturated fat stands at 14 and 16 percent in their breakfast and subsequently 29 and 26 percent in their lunch.
The added sugar is highly used in the snacks which is substantially at around two-fifths, continuing with dinner just under one quarter. Furthermore, the lunch and morning breakfast have added sugar proportion of 19 and 16 percent.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response successfully identifies the main features of the charts and makes relevant comparisons. You have correctly highlighted the key trends, such as the high consumption of added sugar in snacks and the dominance of sodium and saturated fat in dinner. The overview is clear and covers the essential information. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described with complete accuracy. For instance, stating that snacks have 'just over one-tenth' of sodium is slightly imprecise compared to the visual data. Overall, the response is well-focused and addresses all parts of the prompt effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on different nutrient categories. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand,' 'Furthermore,' and 'subsequently' to link sentences. While the structure is sound, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the analysis of sodium/saturated fat from added sugar, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. The overall arrangement is coherent and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrate,' 'consumed,' 'proportions,' and 'substantially.' There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'taken by the USA' (which should be 'consumed in the USA') and 'morning breakfast' (which is redundant). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, there is room for more precise collocations. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but increasing the variety of descriptive verbs and adjectives would enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'the sodium, saturated fat and added sugar is' should be 'are') and awkward phrasing like 'which experiences large share of added sugar.' Despite these errors, your meaning is consistently clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To improve, focus on ensuring that plural subjects take plural verbs and refining your use of relative clauses to avoid awkward phrasing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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