Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-22

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)

Three pie charts give percentages of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in meals consumed in USA which may be dangerous when consumed in larger quantity.

Overall, it has been observed that sodium and saturated fats have been consumed in larger proportions in dinner, while sugar is taken in higher amount in snacks. In breakfast, sodium is used in lesser qualntity as compared to the added sugar and saturated fat.

During breakfast, sodium is comsumed 14%, whereas saturated fat and sugar are consumed in equal proportions, at 16%. In lunch, sodium is being used in higher quantities which is at 29%, while the sugar is least preferrred at 19%.

Sugar is among the most popular item in snacks which is used at 42%, follwed by saturated fat at 21%, while sodium is taken in less quantity, at 14% only. Opposite trend follows for dinner, where sodium is consumed in excess quantity at 43%, followed by fat at 37%,whereas figure accounted for sugar is at 23% only.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the three pie charts regarding sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in US meals. An appropriate overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting that sodium and saturated fats peak at dinner while added sugar peaks during snacks. Key data points are selected accurately and compared effectively, such as noting that breakfast sodium stands at 14% while saturated fat and sugar both equal 16%. The response meets the requirement to summarise information and make relevant comparisons without significant omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The text demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is divided adequately into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the meals. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'whereas', and 'followed by' are used with reasonable flexibility, although some transitional phrasing is slightly repetitive. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different categories of data. Overall, the arrangement is coherent, allowing the reader to follow the comparisons smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to handle the task with some flexibility and precision, employing terms such as 'proportions', 'consumed', 'excess quantity', and 'preferred'. There are a few lexical inaccuracies or awkward collocations, such as 'lesser qualntity' (spelling error) and 'figure accounted for sugar', but these do not impede communication. Less common lexical items are attempted with adequate control, supporting the overall clarity of the data report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

A mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used successfully throughout the response, including relative clauses and comparative constructions ('where sodium is consumed in excess quantity at 43%, followed by fat at 37%'). There are occasional grammatical and mechanical errors, such as missing articles ('in USA'), spelling mistakes ('qualntity', 'comsumed', 'follwed'), and minor punctuation lapses. However, these errors occur infrequently and do not impede communication, leaving the majority of sentences error-free.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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