Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-24

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 pie charts illustrates the average proportion of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in typical meals, which may be not good for health if eaten too much.

Overall, the highest percentage of sodium and saturated fat is consumed in dinner and lowest in breakfast, while sugar is mostly eaten in high amount in snacks.

In dinner, there is 41% consumption of sodium, which is considerably high, while percentage of saturated fat eaten in dinner is 37%, which is quite similar to proportion of sodium. As of sugar, it presents a notably low percentage of 23% in dinner, however it is consumed 42% in snacks, which is large fraction as compared to other nutrients.

There are very small portions of nutrients in breakfast, with sodium about 14%, and saturated fat and sugar about 16%. The percentage of sodium and saturated fat in lunch is high, while portion of sugar added is low. There is 29% sodium, 26% saturated fat, and 19% of sugar is consumed in lunch.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the charts regarding sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar across four meal categories. An overview is successfully provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the highest and lowest consumption trends. Key data points are selected and compared, such as noting that dinner accounts for the highest sodium (43% in the chart, though slightly misread as 41% by the student) and that snacks dominate added sugar consumption at 42%. While there is a minor data discrepancy regarding dinner sodium, the overall reporting is clear, accurate enough to meet the core requirements of Academic Task 1, and appropriately supported with figures from the charts. This performance aligns well with the Band 6 or 7 descriptors, and is awarded a solid Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response features a clear overall progression, moving logically from an introductory statement and a global overview to detailed body paragraphs about dinner, breakfast, and lunch. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices are generally effective, using transition markers such as 'Overall', 'In dinner', and 'As of sugar'. However, some referencing and cohesion feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent repetition of 'while percentage of...' and 'is consumed'. Paragraph four groups breakfast and lunch together adequately, but logical flow could be enhanced with smoother transitions between meals. Overall, the organizational structure is sound and meets the criteria for Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully utilizing terms such as 'proportion', 'consumption', 'fraction', and 'nutrients'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'considerably high' and 'notably low'. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'which may be not good for health' (instead of unhealthy) and 'sugar is mostly eaten in high amount' (instead of consumed in large quantities). Spelling is generally accurate, and word choices do not impede communication, placing this response firmly in the Band 6 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and subordinate structures ('while sugar is mostly eaten in high amount in snacks', 'which is considerably high'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward structures throughout, such as missing articles ('In dinner', 'percentage of saturated fat'), incorrect prepositions, and slight subject-verb agreement or phrasing issues ('percentage of sodium and saturated fat in lunch is high, while portion of sugar added is low'). Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, and the writer displays a sufficient control of basic grammar to achieve a Band 6.0.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.