Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-14
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 charts compare the proportion of four different types of meal in three distinct nutrients which may find unhealthy if consumed more than enough.
Overall,it is apparent that dinner meal remained the dominant category in all nutrients except Added sugar, whereas breakfast represented the lowest share among all nutrients. Notably, snack's percentage increased significantly and lunch's ratio dropped relatively, in Added sugar as compared to Sodium and Saturated fat. Although, breakfast recorded at the same level across three nutrients.
Looking at the data in detail, dinner accounted for the peak proportion of 43% in Sodium and 37% in Saturated fat, meanwhile the second highest figure in Added sugar constituted 23%. Furthermore, lunch noted at 29% in Sodium, 26% in Saturated fat and 19% in Added sugar. Moreover, breakfast recorded 14% in Sodium and 16% in all other nutrients
Regarding the remaining meal, snack constituted at same level of breakfast 14% in Sodium and 21% in Saturated fat. Finally, snack contributed the maximum share of 42% in Added sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student successfully identifies and reports the main features of the charts, providing a clear overview and making relevant comparisons between the nutrients. The response highlights key data points accurately, such as dinner being the dominant category for sodium and saturated fats, while snacks peak in added sugars. However, there are minor inaccuracies in the opening sentence, where the student mistakenly refers to 'four different types of meal' instead of four meal categories (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks), and claims there are 'four different types of meal in three distinct nutrients'. Despite this slip, all parts of the task are addressed adequately with clear supporting data. This performance aligns well with the requirements for Band 6.5, moving towards Band 7.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from an introductory overview to detailed body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group information by meal types and data features. Cohesive devices are employed to connect ideas, such as 'Overall, it is apparent', 'Looking at the data in detail', and 'Regarding the remaining meal'. However, some cohesive referencing and transition use feels slightly mechanical or awkward, as seen in 'Although, breakfast recorded at the same level' and 'snack constituted at same level of breakfast'. Overall organisation is clear, but minor awkwardness in cohesion keeps this criterion at a solid Band 6.5.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an Academic Task 1 response, incorporating terms such as 'proportion', 'dominant category', 'significant', and 'peak proportion'. There are, however, noticeable word choice and collocation errors throughout the text. For example, writing 'four different types of meal in three distinct nutrients which may find unhealthy' contains awkward phrasing and grammatical collision. Other minor slips include 'snack's percentage increased significantly and lunch's ratio dropped relatively' and 'snack constituted at same level'. Despite these inaccuracies, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication, fitting the Band 6 descriptor well.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses ('whereas breakfast represented the lowest share') and comparative structures ('as compared to Sodium and Saturated fat'). However, there are several grammatical errors and punctuation slips throughout the response. Notable issues include missing spacing after punctuation ('Overall,it is apparent'), missing verbs or incorrect prepositions ('breakfast recorded at the same level', 'snack constituted at same level'), and awkward passive/active transitions ('lunch noted at 29%'). While these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the writing from achieving a Band 7. A score of 6.0 reflects this mix of structures alongside persistent minor errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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