Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-20

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 given pie charts illustrate the average proportions of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar consumed in four different meals throughout the day.. These nutrients are known to contribute to health issues when consumed in excess.

Overall, the largest proportion of sodium and saturated fat is consumed during dinner, while added sugar is highest in snacks. By contrast, breakfast contains the lowest and most balanced levels of the three nutrients.

According to the first chart, the highest amount of sodium consumption is at dinner, making up 43% of the total. Lunch also accounts for a notable proportion. In contrast, breakfast and snacks show similar and much lower figures. The second chart shows that the highest proportion of saturated fat is 37% for dinner, while lunch comes second in terms of saturated fat intake, with 26%. The figure for snacks is 21%, whereas breakfast has the lowest proportion. In the last pie chart, the greatest proportion of added sugar is found in snacks, at 42%. However, the figure for dinner was almost half that of snacks. There was a noticeable gap between the figures for breakfast and snacks, with the former at 16% and the latter at 42%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by selecting and reporting the main features of the charts. An effective overview is provided, highlighting the key extremes such as dinner dominating sodium and saturated fat, while snacks are highest in added sugar. Key data points are accurately cited, such as 43% for sodium at dinner and 42% for added sugar in snacks, along with suitable comparisons between the categories. The information is well-selected, accurate against the visual data, and fully satisfies the requirements of Academic Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paraphrase and an overview paragraph, followed by a detailed body paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'By contrast', 'In contrast', and 'whereas' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data comparisons. Paragraphing is logical and effective, contributing to the overall clarity and readability of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic report. The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary relating to data reporting, such as 'proportion', 'consumption', 'accounts for', and 'notable proportion'. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses or minor repetitive patterns, but the range is adequate to convey the information clearly and precisely without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'While added sugar is highest in snacks' and 'The second chart shows that the highest proportion of saturated fat is 37% for dinner'. Control over grammar and punctuation is generally strong, with frequent error-free sentences. There is a minor punctuation typo at the end of the first paragraph (double periods), but overall grammatical accuracy is well maintained.

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