Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-29
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 three pie charts illustrate the average percentage of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in typical meals consumed in the USA.
Overall, dinner contains highest percentage of sodium and saturated fat consumption, while snacks contain by far highest percentage of added sugar. Breakfast generally contributes the lowest figures among all three nutrients.
In terms of sodium, dinner accounted for the largest percentage at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%, while breakfast and snacks had equal figures, at 14% each. A similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat, as dinner accounted for the highest percentage at 37%, while lunch with the second highest figure at 26%, whereas breakfast and snacks with 16% and 21% each.
At the end, figures for the added sugar is quite different, as snacks are responsible for the largest share, at 42%, whereas dinner accounted for 23%, while breakfast and lunch with the lowest percentage with 16% and 19% respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The student covers all key features of the charts successfully. The overview clearly highlights the main trends, noting that dinner is the primary source of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks dominate added sugar consumption. The body paragraphs accurately report the specific percentages for each meal across all three nutrients without inventing data. Figures such as 43% for sodium at dinner and 42% for snacks regarding added sugar are correctly identified and compared. Although some minor grouping details could be elaborated further, the response fully satisfies the requirements of Task 1 by selecting and reporting the main features effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and well-structured body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'followed by', and 'whereas' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data comparisons. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and logically, separating the different nutrients into distinct discussions. While some transitions like 'At the end' feel slightly unnatural for an academic report, the logical progression is clear throughout the text.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, using terms such as 'illustrate', 'proportion', 'percentage', and 'consumption'. There are some minor lexical and structural awkwardnesses, such as missing articles ('contains highest percentage') and slight phrasing errors in 'while lunch with the second highest figure'. However, less common vocabulary is attempted with reasonable success, and errors do not impede communication, placing the response comfortably within the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, utilizing subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'while snacks contain by far highest percentage'). There are some grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('contains highest percentage') and incomplete verb phrases in parallel structures (e.g., 'while breakfast and lunch with the lowest percentage'). Despite these recurring minor inaccuracies, the majority of sentences are understandable, and the punctuation is generally sound, representing typical Band 6 performance.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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